Tamil Nadu has inaugurated what is being described as India’s first fully integrated hybrid neurosurgery operation theatre at Kilpauk Medical College Hospital (KMCH) in Chennai. The new facility combines advanced imaging, endovascular and open-surgery capabilities under a single roof, a significant step forward for complex neurological care in the country.
Developed at an estimated cost of ₹18 crore, the hybrid theatre, a surgical suite equipped with real-time imaging plus full operating room infrastructure aims to streamline neurosurgical procedures by eliminating the need to move critically ill patients for separate imaging or catheter-based intervention.
A hybrid operating room (OR) also known as Hybrid-OR or hybrid theatre integrates a conventional sterile operating theatre with advanced imaging and interventional radiology equipment (such as fixed-C arms, angiography or CT/3D imaging systems).
This allows surgeons and interventionists to perform endovascular procedures, microsurgery, or combined “hybrid procedures” in the same room without transferring the patient.
In neurosurgery, such hybrid ORs are especially valuable. They enable immediate imaging during surgery, precise endovascular neurosurgical interventions (e.g. for aneurysms, vascular malformations), spine and trauma surgeries, and rapid conversion between open and interventional approaches improving safety and outcomes.
Real-time Imaging On-Table: Surgeons can obtain 3D scans (or angiography) while the patient remains anaesthetized on the operating table, avoiding risky transfers between wards and radiology suites. This reduces delays and potential complications.
Precision in Complex Neurosurgeries: The facility will support high-precision neuro-interventions — including catheter-based neurovascular procedures, microsurgery, and hybrid approaches (e.g. aneurysm clipping plus endovascular repair in the same session).
Time and Cost Efficiency: By combining imaging and surgery in one suite, the hybrid theatre reduces procedural time, minimizes need for multiple surgeries or transfers, and may potentially shorten patient recovery time.
Enhanced Safety for Critical Patients: Critically ill or unstable neuro patients often risk deterioration during movements between imaging and OR. With hybrid setup, all interventions happen in one controlled environment.
Additionally, this facility was constructed under Tamil Nadu’s health-development scheme which aims to equip several governmental teaching hospitals with advanced theatre infrastructure. Kilpauk is one of the selected medical colleges for such upgradation.
Worldwide, hybrid ORs are increasingly used for neurosurgery and vascular surgery because they let teams combine interventional radiology and surgery. Clinical studies show that for complex neurovascular conditions like large intracranial aneurysms hybrid-OR use significantly improves the completeness of procedures and reduces the need for repeat interventions.
The benefits of hybrid ORs are not limited to neurosurgery, they extend to vascular, cardiac, orthopaedic, trauma, and oncological procedures. Their flexibility and improved imaging support make them the “ORs of the future.”
With the new hybrid neurosurgery theatre at Kilpauk, patients requiring complex brain or spine surgeries in Tamil Nadu and those referred from other states may now have access to advanced, high-precision neuro-care within a government medical college hospital. This could substantially reduce dependence on private tertiary centers and make advanced neurosurgical care more accessible and affordable.
The integrated nature of the theatre also means faster decision-making, lower risks during surgery, and potential for better outcomes especially in emergencies involving neurovascular events (e.g. brain bleeds, aneurysms, arteriovenous malformations).
(Rh/TL/MSM)
