TGASICON 2026: Dr. Prabhu Karunakaran Highlights Precision and the Role of Robotics in Paediatric Urological Surgery
Robotic surgery is changing the possibilities of minimally invasive surgery, but in pediatric urology, the technology has to work within a very different surgical environment. Smaller anatomy, limited working space and the demands of delicate reconstruction make precision particularly important when operating on children.
That was the focus of Dr. Prabhu Karunakaran, Consultant Pediatric Urologist & Robotic Surgeon at Apollo Hospitals, Hyderabad, at TGASICON 2026, the 12th Annual Conference of the Telangana Association of Surgeons of India. Held from 11–13 September 2026 at Engineering Staff College of India (ESCI), Gachibowli, Hyderabad, the conference brought surgeons and healthcare professionals together around the theme “Precision Surgery: Roots in Tradition, Reach for Tomorrow.”
Dr. Karunakaran presented “Precision and the Need for Robotic Urological Surgery in Children,” examining where robotic technology can contribute to pediatric urological surgery and why technology needs to be considered alongside pediatric expertise, patient selection and surgical judgment. The conference experience extended beyond his presentation, with Dr. Karunakaran also training general surgery residents from Telangana on the SSi Mantra robotic system during a dry-lab session.
Pediatric Robotic Urology: Where Precision Matters Most
Pediatric urological surgery presents challenges that are fundamentally different from many adult procedures. Surgeons may be working around small anatomical structures, within restricted spaces and with limited margin for error, while reconstructive procedures often demand meticulous technique.
In his TGASICON presentation, Dr. Karunakaran discussed the role of robotic systems in this setting, highlighting potential advantages such as enhanced visualization, instrument dexterity and precision.
The discussion, however, was not simply about adopting robotic technology. The more important question was where robotics can genuinely add value in pediatric urological surgery.
For a child, the decision to use a robotic platform remains part of a larger clinical process that includes understanding the condition, selecting the appropriate patient and procedure, and applying specialist surgical judgment. Robotic technology can support the surgeon, but the surgical strategy remains grounded in expertise and the needs of the individual patient.
A line from the presentation captured that perspective particularly well:
“The surprise is not the robot.”
The idea behind the message is straightforward: the technology is important, but what ultimately matters is what the surgeon can achieve with it for the right patient and the right indication.
From Surgical Discussion to Hands-On Robotic Training
The academic experience continued beyond the conference podium.
During TGASICON 2026, Dr. Karunakaran trained general surgery residents from Telangana on the SSi Mantra robotic system in the dry lab, introducing them to robotic surgical principles and hands-on robotic skills.
This practical component added an important educational dimension to the weekend. The residents were able to engage directly with a robotic surgical platform and gain familiarity with the principles involved in robotic surgery rather than encountering the technology only through lectures or demonstrations.
For surgical trainees, that kind of exposure can form part of the transition from understanding robotic systems conceptually to developing familiarity with the console, instruments and the way robotic technology is incorporated into operative workflows.
The training also connected naturally with the broader message of Dr. Karunakaran’s presentation. Learning the technology is one part of robotic surgery; understanding when, why and how it should be used is another.
SS Innovations identifies the SSi Mantra as its surgical robotic platform and lists Dr. Sudhir Srivastava as the company’s Founder, Chairman and CEO
A Conversation With Dr. Sudhir Srivastava
The TGASICON weekend also brought Dr. Karunakaran together with Dr. Sudhir Srivastava, Founder, Chairman and CEO of SS Innovations, the company behind the SSi Mantra surgical robotic platform.
Dr. Karunakaran described the interaction as an opportunity to experience, learn and exchange perspectives on the future of robotic surgery.
The meeting offered a useful intersection between clinical practice and surgical technology. For a pediatric urologist and robotic surgeon, understanding how robotic systems are developed and how surgeons interact with them adds another dimension to the clinical conversation.
It also reinforced the broader educational nature of the weekend. Dr. Karunakaran was not only speaking about robotic surgery, but also engaging with the technology directly, teaching residents how to work with the platform and exchanging perspectives with one of the leaders associated with its development.
What TGASICON 2026 Meant for Pediatric Robotic Surgery
Taken together, Dr. Karunakaran’s TGASICON experience brought three elements together: scientific discussion, surgical education and direct engagement with robotic technology.
His presentation addressed the potential role of robotics in pediatric urological surgery, while the dry-lab session gave surgeons in training an opportunity to develop practical familiarity with a robotic platform. His interaction with Dr. Sudhir Srivastava added another perspective on the relationship between surgical practice and robotic innovation.
For pediatric urology, the significance of these conversations lies in how technology can be applied to the realities of operating on children. Robotic systems may offer advantages in visualization, instrument control and precision, but their value depends on appropriate clinical application.
That makes the development of pediatric robotic surgery a question not only of technology, but also of training, experience, patient selection and surgical decision-making.
The weekend in Hyderabad therefore represented more than another conference appearance for Dr. Karunakaran. It brought together his roles as a pediatric urologist, robotic surgeon and surgical educator, from presenting a specialist perspective on robotic urological surgery in children to training residents on the SSi Mantra system.
And that brings the message of the presentation into focus: the goal is not simply to use a robot. The goal is to use technology with precision and expertise when it can genuinely contribute to better surgical care for children.