First Indian Surgical Team in India to Execute Advanced External Titanium Implant Chest Correction Technique
13th March, 2026 ,Kolkata : Narayana RN Tagore Hospital has successfully performed the Pectus Up procedure for Pectus Excavatum on a 10-year-old male child, marking a historic milestone as the first Indian team of doctors in India to perform this advanced technique, and the first surgical team in Northern and Eastern India to conduct the procedure for the first time.
This landmark achievement establishes a new benchmark in minimally invasive chest wall correction and reinforces India’s growing capability to deliver globally advanced surgical innovations domestically.
The child had been living with pectus excavatum since birth. What initially appeared to be a cosmetic and social concern gradually progressed into functional complications, including increasing chest discomfort and shortness of breath on exertion, as described by his parents.
He presented in stable condition through the Outpatient Department (OPD) of Dr. Manujesh Bandhopadhyay and was evaluated. Following his detailed clinical examination and initial assessment, a comprehensive diagnostic workup was undertaken, including Chest X-ray, CT scan with Haller’s Index measurement, echocardiography, and pulmonary function tests (PFT), to fully analyze the complexity of the deformity.
After thorough evaluation and case deliberation, it was decided to avoid the traditional intrathoracic bar placement (Nuss procedure) and instead proceed with the advanced titanium implant-based Pectus Up technique, which corrects the deformity externally without placing any bar near the heart or lungs.
The surgery lasted approximately two hours and was completed without complications. In a remarkable post-operative recovery, the child was pain-free and able to mobilize within the ICU just one hour after surgery. He was discharged after a five-day hospital stay.
The Pectus Up procedure represents a next-generation approach to correcting pectus excavatum. Unlike the conventional Nuss procedure, where a metal bar is inserted inside the chest cavity close to vital organs, the Pectus Up technique lifts and stabilizes the sternum externally using a customized titanium implant fixed directly to the bone.
The procedure does not require entry into the pleural cavity, lung deflation, or thoracoscopy. By eliminating intrathoracic bar placement, it significantly reduces internal risks, lowers post-operative pain, and enables faster recovery. The sternum is lifted in a controlled and anatomically precise manner, ensuring symmetrical correction and excellent cosmetic outcomes.
The titanium implant used in this case was patient-specific and imported from Spain. The procedure required continuous coordination with the overseas manufacturing team to ensure precision customization and timely delivery. The surgery was made possible with financial support from the Royal Government of Bhutan, which assisted in covering the cost of the specialized implant.
Prof. (Dr.) Amitabha Chakrabarti, Senior Consultant and Lead Thoracic and Vascular Surgery Kolkata Cluster , said:“This achievement is not about one surgeon, it reflects the collective strength, planning, and coordination of our entire Thoracic and Vascular Surgery team. From detailed pre-operative evaluation to intra-operative precision and post-operative care, every member played a crucial role in making this milestone possible. Performing the Pectus Up procedure as the first Indian team in the country, and the first time in Northern and Eastern India, demonstrates what collaborative expertise can achieve. Together, we were able to deliver a safer, anatomically precise, and minimally invasive solution for this child.”
Dr. Manujesh Bandhopadhyay, Consultant, Thoracic and Vascular Surgery , said: “When the child came to me with chest discomfort and breathlessness, a detailed evaluation was done and decided to avoid the traditional intrathoracic bar technique. Instead, after discussing with patients parents the advanced titanium implant-based Pectus Up procedure was chosen, which corrects the deformity externally without placing a bar near the heart or lungs. This approach reduces internal risk, minimizes pain, and allows faster recovery. Seeing him walk comfortably within an hour of surgery reaffirmed this decision. Being the first Indian surgical team to perform this technique in India, and the first in Northern and Eastern India, is a proud milestone for us.”
Mr. Abhijit C.P., Director & Cluster Head – Kolkata and Corporate Growth Initiative, Narayana Health, East, stated: “This is a defining moment for advanced chest wall surgery in India. Performing the Pectus Up procedure for the first time in Northern and Eastern India, and by an Indian surgical team within the country, reflects our commitment to bringing cutting-edge global innovations closer to patients. It reinforces Narayana Health’s position as a leader in advanced surgical care.”
Mr. R. Venkatesh, Group Chief Operating Officer, Narayana Health, added:“At Narayana Health, innovation is meaningful only when it translates into safer outcomes and faster recovery for patients. Successfully executing the Pectus Up procedure in India ensures that families can now access world-class, minimally invasive chest wall correction without travelling abroad. This milestone underscores our focus on clinical excellence, accessibility, and global standards of care.”
