Kilpauk Medical College Hospital (KMCH) in Chennai has unveiled India’s first hybrid neurosurgical operating theatre in the government sector, integrating advanced CT scanning, cath lab, and surgical capabilities for minimally invasive brain procedures.
Funded by the Tamil Nadu Health Rehabilitation Project with Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) support at Rs 18 crore, this facility enables endovascular coiling and neurointerventions for aneurysms, tumours, and strokes without opening the skull. Seven patients have already received treatment, marking a breakthrough in public healthcare accessibility.
Facility Features and Capabilities
The hybrid OT combines diagnostic imaging with therapeutic interventions in one room, allowing on-table CT scans for real-time precision. This setup supports both open neurosurgery and endovascular techniques, reducing risks like blood vessel damage.
Traditional methods required skull openings and weeks-long recoveries with permanent metallic clips, but the new theatre facilitates quicker procedures and shorter hospital stays. The facility operates round-the-clock, equipped with neuro-navigation, endoscopy, and physiological monitoring for complex cases.
Successful Patient Treatments
Since its launch, KMCH has reportedly treated seven patients: three therapeutically via endovascular coiling for brain aneurysms and tumours, and four diagnostically for stroke and other conditions. Procedures avoided invasive skull access, promoting faster recovery.
Neurologist Shakir Husain Hakim, alongside Stroke and Neuro-intervention Foundation (SNIF) experts, led these operations.
Heads of Neurosurgery (Kodeeswaran M.) and Neurology (M. Radha) oversaw demonstrations during the Directorate of Medical Education Diamond Jubilee events on November 21-22 [press release].
Training Partnership and Future Impact
KMCH signed a Memorandum of Understanding with SNIF for ongoing neurointervention services and faculty training, including a two-year fellowship. SNIF faculty Goutham S.P. participated in workshops. This collaboration builds local expertise, ensuring sustainable advanced care.
The facility addresses trauma, tumours, and strokes common in public hospitals, potentially serving thousands annually and setting a model for nationwide replication.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
The Hybrid Neurosurgical OT at KMCH exemplifies how government hospitals can adopt leading technologies to improve patient outcomes and accessibility to complex care. The Logical Indian supports such initiatives for equitable health services and encourages ongoing investment in medical infrastructure and training.
