S. P. Somashekhar
Manipal Hospital, Christie's, ASTER, Gynecologic Oncology Group
Papers
10
Total Citations
80
H-Index
5
About
Dr. S. P. Somashekhar is a pioneering force in robotic surgical oncology, with a primary focus on advancing minimally invasive techniques for colorectal and gynecologic cancers. His major contributions center on rigorously comparing robotic-assisted surgery against traditional open and laparoscopic approaches, demonstrating that robotics can achieve superior short-term outcomes without compromising oncologic safety. Notably, his landmark prospective randomized study on robotic versus open surgery for rectal cancer (38 citations) provided critical Indian data supporting the adoption of robotics. Dr. Somashekhar has also innovated in intraoperative safety, leading prospective analyses of the da Vinci SureForm SmartFire stapler—evaluating over 400 firings—to reduce anastomotic leakage, a feared complication. His work on real-time identification of transection lines using Indocyanine Green (ICG) fluorescence represents a significant technical advance. With a high-volume practice at a major Indian tertiary care center, he has systematically analyzed the learning curve for robotic rectal surgery, helping to establish training benchmarks. Through multi-centric real-world studies, including the Indian Collaborative Group on Rectal Resections, Dr. Somashekhar has generated robust evidence that is shaping surgical standards across India and beyond.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
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- 4Robotic Surgery for Rectal Cancer: Hype or Hope? (Indian Experience)7 citations · 2020
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