AIIMS’ ROTCH Technique Reaches Israel: First Successful Epilepsy Surgery Performed After Training From Delhi

New Delhi: India’s medical expertise has once again made a global mark. The ROTCH technique—developed by neurosurgeons at AIIMS, New Delhi—for the treatment of epilepsy has now been adopted internationally. After receiving specialised training from AIIMS experts, neurosurgeons in Israel successfully performed their first epilepsy surgery using this technique.

The landmark procedure was conducted on 20 November 2025 at the Tel Aviv Medical Center by Prof. Jonathan Roth and Prof. Ido Strauss, marking a major step in Indo-Israel medical collaboration.

12-Year-Old Girl Recovers Within a Day

The surgery was performed on a 12-year-old girl who had severe epilepsy. Before the procedure, she was unable to speak and had lost movement on the right side of her body. Remarkably, within a day after surgery, the child regained her speech, normal body movements, and did not experience any further seizures.

Israeli doctors expressed deep gratitude to Prof. P. Sarat Chandra and his team at AIIMS, saying the collaboration has proven how shared knowledge between nations can significantly improve patient outcomes.

A Proud Moment for India

Prof. Sarat Chandra said it is a moment of pride for India, as Israel—known for its advanced healthcare—has now adopted a technique developed in India. He added:

• 50 million people worldwide suffer from epilepsy
• 12% of them live in India
• Nearly 25% of epilepsy patients do not respond to medicines and require surgery

Traditional epilepsy surgeries for young children often require opening half of the skull. AIIMS’ ROTCH method is far simpler, minimally invasive, and much safer.

AIIMS’ Expertise Recognised Globally

AIIMS Neurology Department head, Prof. Manjari Tripathi, said that AIIMS runs one of the world’s most prestigious epilepsy surgery programmes. She emphasised the need for more global partnerships to tackle epilepsy effectively and noted that Israel has greatly benefited from AIIMS’ experience.

What Is the ROTCH Technique?

ROBOTIC THERMOCOAGULATIVE HEMISPHEROTOMY (ROTCH) is a minimally invasive technique developed by Prof. P. Sarat Chandra at AIIMS.

• No large surgical cuts required
• Very low risk of bleeding or infection
• Significantly reduced surgical costs
• Used successfully on about 50 children so far with excellent results

ROTCH combines robotic precision with micro-ablation technology to disconnect the affected brain hemisphere without major surgery.