Guntur, Andhra Pradesh (May 5, 2025) – Dr. Mohana Rao Patibandla, founder and chief neurosurgeon at Dr. Rao’s Hospital in Guntur, has recently earned top honors and led his institution to multiple pioneering achievements in neurosurgery. At the Sardar Patel Unity Summit & Awards 2025 held in Goa on April 11, 2025, the Topnotch Foundation named him “Best Minimally Invasive Neurosurgeon, Spine Surgeon, and Endovascular Surgeon in India 2025,” recognizing his pioneering work in minimally invasive neurosurgery, spine surgery, and endovascular procedures, as well as his track record of improving patient outcomes and accessibility.
Under Dr. Patibandla’s leadership, Dr. Rao’s Hospital has performed the first-of-its-kind minimally invasive brain surgery in India using the BrainPath system (ET HealthWorld). The hospital now features India’s only integrated neurosurgical hybrid operating theater—a suite that combines biplane angiography, intraoperative CT, neuromonitoring, and neuronavigation to deliver real-time precision during surgery.
These innovations, along with published research and integration with public health schemes, are significantly raising the standard of care and expanding access to world-class neurosurgery in a Tier-3 city like Guntur.
Dr. Patibandla’s journey reflects a deep commitment to providing cutting-edge care in underserved regions. After advanced training abroad in minimally invasive neurosurgery, neuro-oncology, and endovascular techniques, he returned to India instead of pursuing a lucrative international career. He founded Dr. Rao’s Hospital to make world-class neurosurgical care accessible to underserved communities beyond India’s major metros.
His patient-centric innovations have significantly reduced recovery times and complications, helping to make quality neurosurgery more widely available. One landmark example came in April 2024, when his team performed India’s first BrainPath-guided neurosurgery to remove a deep-seated brain lesion using a small-port access with advanced MRI tractography and neuronavigation (ET HealthWorld). The procedure reduced trauma, blood loss, and hospital stay.
“We are thrilled to bring the BrainPath system to Guntur and India, offering our patients a safer, more effective, and minimally invasive option for brain surgery,” said Dr. Patibandla. “This achievement is a testament to our relentless pursuit of innovation and our unwavering commitment to delivering the highest quality of care”
Dr. Patibandla also presented research on Minimally Invasive Port-Based Parafascicular Surgery (MIPS) for brain tumors at a state neurosurgeons’ conference. Among 37 patients, 90% experienced reduced pain and over half showed improved function after surgery. According to ET HealthWorld, this study represents a significant advancement in neurosurgery, showing that MIPS can safely maximize tumor removal while minimizing complications.
The hospital’s infrastructure further elevates its capabilities. Dr. Rao’s Hospital features a hybrid neurosurgical operating theater with built-in biplane cath lab and intraoperative CT, enabling both open and endovascular interventions in one location. This allows local physicians to perform complex aneurysm coiling, stroke thrombectomy, and advanced spine procedures—which typically require travel to major metros like Delhi or Mumbai
To fully utilize this infrastructure, Dr. Patibandla has invested in training his team in AI-assisted diagnostics, robotic guidance, and real-time imaging. According to ET CIO, orchestrating such systems-level innovation—importing global technologies and relentlessly upskilling staff—has redefined what’s possible outside India’s metro corridors.
The hospital also offers specialized spine suites and neuronavigation systems that allow minimally invasive scoliosis correction and deep brain stimulation with millimeter precision, establishing Dr. Rao’s Hospital as a prototype for the future of neurosurgery in India
Beyond technology, Dr. Patibandla focuses on education, training, and social outreach. The hospital hosts workshops for neurosurgeons and nurses on minimally invasive techniques, neuro-navigation, and intraoperative imaging. It also participates in government health schemes like Andhra Pradesh’s Aarogyasri program, offering subsidized or free surgeries for low-income patients.
Dr. Patibandla and his team are now working to integrate telemedicine, digital health records, and portable insurance, and are building tele-ICU links and state-wide referral networks to extend expert care to remote districts. One local health worker noted the hospital delivers life-saving care with technologies unavailable in most parts of India, highlighting both the progress made and the challenges ahead
In his broader vision, Dr. Patibandla sees this mission as part of a movement toward decentralizing healthcare and promoting equity. By demonstrating that world-class neurosurgery can thrive in Guntur, he challenges the belief that medical excellence must be confined to India’s metros.
Coverage in The Times of India (2023–2025):
How Dr. Mohana Rao Patibandla built a high-tech neurosurgery hub in Guntur
How Dr. Mohana Rao Patibandla built a high-tech neurosurgery hub in Guntur
Dr. Mohana Rao Patibandla Leads Dr. Rao’s Hospital in Pioneering Minimally Invasive Brain Surgery