PROFILE OF DR DEEPRAJ BHANDARKAR

Dr Deepraj Bhandarkar is a Laparoscopic and Gastrointestinal surgeon attached to P. D. Hinduja National Hospital, Sir Hurkisondas Nurrotumdas Hospital and Motiben Dalvi Hospital in Mumbai.

He completed his undergraduate studies from Grant Medical College (1981 - 1987) and surgical residency from J. J. Hospital, Mumbai (1988 - 1991). In 1990, during his residency, Dr Bhandarkar participated in the first-ever laparoscopic cholecystectomy (gallbladder removal) performed in India and since then developed a keen interest in this upcoming specialty. Subsequent to his residency in India he obtained extensive training in laparoscopic and gastrointestinal surgery in England from 1992 to 1997. In 1997, he was awarded the prestigious "Travelling Fellowship of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow" to visit the Royal Brisbane Hospital, Australia and train further in advanced laparoscopic surgery. The same year he also obtained the Diploma in Laparoscopic Surgery from University of Strasbourg, France.

He returned to India in 1997 and started active clinical practice exclusively dedicated to minimal access surgery. To learn about the newer developments in the field, he visited Mount Sinai Hospital, New York in 2002.

Considered a national expert in the field of minimal access surgery, Dr Bhandarkar routinely performs the following laparoscopic and thoracoscopic operations:
- Laparoscopic cholecystectomy for gallstones (Dr Bhandarkar now performs this operation using the latest Single Incision Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy (SILC) technique in which only one short incision is made below the navel instead of four cuts required in traditional laparoscopic operation.

For more information visit www.singleincisionlapchole.com
- Laparoscopic appendicectomy for appendicitis
- Laparoscopic adhesiolysis for adhesions
- Laparoscopic lymph node biopsy
- Laparoscopic repair of inguinal hernia
- Laparoscopic repair of incisional hernia
- Laparoscopic repair of paraumbilical hernia
- Laparoscopic repair of hiatus hernia
- Laparoscopic fundoplication for GERD
- Laparoscopic cardiomyotomy for achalasia cardia
- Laparoscopic treatment of liver cysts
- Laparoscopic therapy for pancreatic pseudocyst
- Laparoscopic surgery for diseases of small & large intestine
- Laparoscopic rectopexy for rectal prolpase
- Laparoscopic splenectomy
- Laparoscopic adrenalectomy

- Thoracosocpic lymph node biopsy
- Thoracoscopic treatment of empyema
- Thoracoscopic sympathectomy for sweaty palms or hyperhidrosis
- Thoracoscopic resection of emphysematous bulla

He was amongst the first surgeons in India to practice the technique of Subfascial Endoscopic Perforator Surgery (SEPS) - a revolutionary endoscopic treatment for varicose veins.

Dr Bhandarkar is active in various National surgical associations. He has been an Executive Committee member and is currently the Hon. Treasurer of the Indian Association of Gastrointestinal Endo Surgeons. He is also the Associate Secretary of the International College of Surgeons - Indian Section and Executive Committee member of the Hernia Society of India.

He is affiliated to several National as well as International professional organizations including

INDIAN ORGANIZATIONS
- Indian Medical Association
- Association of Surgeons of India
- Indian Association of Surgical Gastroenterology
- Association of Colon Rectal Surgeons of India
- Indian Association of Gastrointestinal Endo Surgeons
- Association of Minimal Access Surgeons of India
- National Academy of Medical Sciences
- Indian Chapter of IHPBA
- Hernia Society of India
- Obesity Surgery Society of India

INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
- Society of Endoscopic and Laparoscopic Surgeons of Asia
- Asia Pacific Hernia Society
- American College of Surgeons
- American College of Gastroenterology
- International College of Surgeons
- Society of American Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Surgeons
- European Association of Transluminal Surgery

Being a keen academic, he has to his credit over sixty publications and has given more than hundred and fifty presentations and invited lectures at National and International conferences. He has authored a book titled - A primer of laparoscopic surgery. He has been the past Associate Editor of Indian Journal of Surgery and is currently the Editor of Journal of Minimal Access Surgery - the only English-language publication from the Asia-Pacific region dedicated to the specialty. He regularly writes for the lay press and conducts lectures to increase public awareness about the specialty of laparoscopic surgery.

Dr Bhandarkar firmly believes that the benefits of laparoscopic surgery should be passed on to one and all irrespective of the socioeconomic status. He thus strives to make his services and laparoscopic expertise available to patients from all strata of the society and from all parts of the country.

He can be reached at deeprajbhandarkar@hotmail.com and is happy to respond to queries related to any aspect of laparoscopic surgery.