Surgeon Spotlight: Dr. Swapna Misra

In our new Surgeon Spotlight series, we’ll be exploring the world of surgery through the eyes of some of the most skilled and knowledgeable physicians in the world.

We’ll share their experiences and insights in the field of robotic-assisted surgery—delve into to the origins of their medical career, hear about their career highlights, and get their thoughts on the wider impact of robotic surgery in the medical industry.

Today, we're excited to share our conversation with Dr. Swapna Misra.

Meet Dr. Swapna Misra

• Director of Robotic and Laparoscopic Gynecology Surgery, Fortis Hospital Mohali, Punjab, India

• Health activist, adventure-seeker, beauty pageant winner

"I became a robotic surgeon because I wanted to do something more, and I wanted women to stand out in my country." — Dr. Swapna Misra

Surgeon, health activist, adventure-seeker, and beauty pageant winner are just a few of the titles that Dr. Swapna Misra holds. She uses her platform to promote women’s health access and education in her homeland with campaigns such as Save the Uterus and Save the Ovaries.

Dr. Misra comes from a family of physicians, so becoming a doctor was always part of her plan. She decided to pursue gynecology after seeing a woman in a rural part of India lose her life immediately after childbirth and took up robotics in 2017 after observing the minimally invasive benefits of the da Vinci system. 

We interviewed Dr. Misra to better understand the clinical and ergonomic value she sees in using robotics in her practice.

What makes you passionate about what you do?

“I just love doing robotic surgery. You can discharge a patient on the same day[1] and the comfort I have is amazing. If you’re a patient in a family where you don't have the help you need to take care of you and your household, this type of surgery makes a big difference.”

Tell us about your experiences with the da Vinci system.

“The purity of doing a complete surgery, seeing everything clearly and then making a right decision during surgery—that's what robotics is all about. We want to get patients back to normal life as soon as possible, so my hospital is happy that we're able to send patients home the same day[1]—and if you think of the outcomes, the cost of the whole procedure comes down for the patient. So, it's a happy thing for both the patient and the doctor.”

When you think of the environmental impact of surgery, what comes to mind?

“If you calculate the whole thing—comparing open with laparoscopic and robotic surgery—in my experience, robotics uses the least number of: IV fluids, drapes, antibiotics, painkillers, bed occupancy, gauze, material, and human power[1]. So, I think overall robotic surgery is more environmentally friendly compared to other types of surgery.”

What are your thoughts on the ergonomics of robotic-assisted surgery?

“With robotic surgery you're very, very comfortable. You can do five to six surgeries back-to-back[1] without getting exhausted. You can sit on your chair, the camera is with you, and your instruments are with you. Everything is in your control.”

[1] Individuals’ outcomes may depend on a number of factors, including but not limited to types of surgery patient characteristics, disease characteristics and/or physician/surgeon experience.

Disclosures

Testimonials are based on unique experiences from current customers. The individual in this article was compensated for her testimonials.

For intended use and/or indications for use, risks, cautions, and warnings and full prescribing information, refer to the associated user manual(s) or visit https://manuals.intuitivesurgical.com/market.