Reviewed by the Abilitreat Care Team
Published: July 25, 2026 · Updated: July 25, 2026
Redo Heart Surgery Without Opening Your Chest Again — Robotic Myxoma Removal in India
A globally rare, minimally invasive robotic removal of a recurring heart tumor for patients with prior open-heart surgery, performed by Dr. Thiruthani Kumaran M M at Narayana Health City, Bengaluru — saving patients from the massive trauma and risk of a second split sternum.
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What is Redo Myxoma Excision via Robotic Thoracotomy (without aortic cross-clamping)?
A cardiac myxoma is a rare, usually non-cancerous tumor inside the heart. When a patient who has already had open-heart surgery — such as a CABG bypass — develops a myxoma, operating again is traditionally very dangerous because of heavy scar tissue from the first operation.
In this advanced procedure, the surgeon uses robotic arms through tiny, keyhole cuts in the side of the chest (a thoracotomy) to remove the tumor. The heart is kept beating irregularly (fibrillatory arrest) without clamping the main artery — the aorta — which drastically reduces the surgical risk.
Why this is cutting-edge
A typical "redo" heart surgery means cutting through the breastbone again (sternotomy), dissecting dense scar tissue, and stopping the heart completely by clamping the aorta. This robotic approach bypasses the front-chest scar tissue entirely by entering through the ribs instead.
Operating without an aortic cross-clamp, under fibrillatory arrest, in a redo setting, is exceptionally technically demanding. This exact combination is rarely described anywhere in the world — it establishes Narayana Health City as one of the few centers globally with the robotic dexterity and clinical expertise to execute it safely.
Why patients travel for this
Patients facing a "redo" cardiac surgery are inherently high-risk. Many hospitals in Africa, the Middle East, and even parts of the UK and US will either decline complex redo tumor excisions, require a highly traumatic open sternotomy, or place patients on months-long waitlists.
International patients travel for this because it offers a life-saving tumor removal with a fraction of the recovery time, significantly less bleeding risk, and no broken bones. For uninsured or underinsured patients in the US, or state-funded patients in the Gulf and Africa, the price-to-quality ratio at Narayana Health is unmatched globally for robotic cardiac care.
The hospital and surgeon
Narayana Health City, Bengaluru, India
JCI-accredited; over 1,200 robotic cardiac surgeries performed, drawing patients from across South Asia and beyond.
Dr. Thiruthani Kumaran M M
Senior Consultant, Adult Cardiac Surgery — 15+ years' experience, 10,000+ heart surgeries, fellowship-trained in Adult Cardiac Surgery and Heart Transplant at Toronto General Hospital, Canada.
Dr. Thiruthani Kumaran M M is a Senior Consultant in Adult Cardiac Surgery with over 15 years of experience and a track record of 10,000+ heart surgeries, including advanced fellowship training in Adult Cardiac Surgery and Heart Transplant at Toronto General Hospital, Canada.
Narayana Health City is a globally recognized, JCI-accredited cardiac powerhouse that recently passed the milestone of over 1,200 robotic cardiac surgeries.
Long-term outcome data specific to this exact hyper-niche redo/no-cross-clamp technique is not widely published, given how rare the procedure is — this is honestly thin. What is heavily documented is Narayana's overall robotic cardiac volume and success rate, and Dr. Kumaran's broader case record.
What does it cost?
| Region | Estimated Range (USD) |
|---|---|
| India (Narayana Health) | $7,000 – $12,000 |
| UK / Singapore / Gulf | $35,000 – $60,000+ |
| United States | $75,000 – $150,000+ |
Estimated ranges by analogy to standard robotic/redo cardiac pricing — exact quotes require clinical evaluation of the patient's scans.
What does the journey look like?
Pre-op workup takes 2–4 days (echo, CT scans, and blood work to assess scar tissue from the previous CABG and the exact tumor size). The procedure itself runs 4–6 hours.
Hospital stay is typically 5–7 days — 1–2 days in the cardiac ICU, then a step-down ward. Plan for 10–14 days of local recovery at a nearby hotel or guest house before flight clearance.
Total trip length is approximately 3 to 4 weeks in India.
Frequently asked questions
What is a redo myxoma excision?
What is a redo myxoma excision?
It is a surgical procedure to remove a recurring non-cancerous heart tumor (myxoma) in a patient who has already had a previous open-heart surgery, like a bypass (CABG).
Why is robotic surgery better for a second heart operation?
Why is robotic surgery better for a second heart operation?
A second open-heart surgery requires cutting through dense scar tissue from the first operation, which is highly risky. Robotic surgery avoids the breastbone entirely, accessing the heart through tiny incisions between the ribs, which drastically reduces bleeding and trauma.
What does "without aortic cross-clamping" mean?
What does "without aortic cross-clamping" mean?
In traditional heart surgery, the main artery (aorta) is clamped to stop blood flow. Doing the surgery without clamping — while the heart is kept in a quivering state (fibrillatory arrest) — lowers the risk of stroke and organ damage, especially in patients with severe scar tissue.
How long does it take to recover from robotic redo heart surgery?
How long does it take to recover from robotic redo heart surgery?
Because the breastbone is not cut, patients typically leave the hospital in 5 to 7 days and can resume normal light activities within a few weeks, compared to the 2 to 3 months required for traditional open-heart surgery recovery.
Is Narayana Health in India safe for international patients?
Is Narayana Health in India safe for international patients?
Yes. Narayana Health City in Bengaluru is an internationally accredited facility that has performed over 1,200 robotic cardiac surgeries, making it one of the highest-volume, most experienced robotic heart centers in the world.