Dr. Ajay Narasimhan — advanced thoracic & robotic surgery, delivered with compassion.
Dr. Ajay Narasimhan is a Chennai-based thoracic surgeon specialising in Uniportal Robotic Thoracic Surgery, Uniportal VATS and complex lung disease — combining minimally invasive precision with a patient-first approach to every step of recovery.
A career built on discipline, refined through robotic precision.
Dr. Ajay Narasimhan is a cardiothoracic surgeon who completed his higher speciality training at the prestigious Madras Medical College. He graduated in medicine from Annamalai University in 2010 and completed his Masters in General Surgery at Kilpauk Medical College, Chennai, before going on to specialise in Cardio Thoracic & Vascular Surgery. He completed his M.Ch in Cardiothoracic Surgery from the Institute of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Madras Medical College.
He joined Tamil Nadu government service as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Madras Medical College in 2016, where he is credited with performing the first VATS lobectomy in a government setup in Tamil Nadu — bringing minimally invasive thoracic surgery to public healthcare.
He now practises as Senior Consultant in Minimally Invasive & Robotic Thoracic Surgery at Apollo Hospitals, Chennai, where he helped establish the hospital's Robotic Thoracic Surgery Program.
Beyond the operating theatre, he is an active academician with peer-reviewed publications, a member of several national and international thoracic surgery societies, and part of the first Asian team to win the ESTS Masters Cup in Thoracic Surgery in 2015.
- Indian Association of Cardiothoracic Surgery
- European Society of Thoracic Surgeons
- Indian Society of Thoracic Surgeons
- Indian Association of Bronchology
- Indian Chest Society
Focused, minimally invasive care for the chest & lungs
Six areas of specialised practice, spanning robotic surgery, complex reconstructions and thoracic oncology.
Robotic Thoracic Surgery
Uniportal Robotic Thoracic Surgery for precise, minimally invasive chest procedures with faster recovery.
Video-Assisted Thoracic Surgery (VATS)
Minimally invasive keyhole surgery of the chest, reducing pain, scarring and hospital stay.
Thoracic Oncology & Lung Cancer Surgery
Surgical management of lung cancer and thoracic tumours, from diagnosis through resection.
Tracheal & Mediastinal Surgery
Complex tracheal reconstructions, tracheo-oesophageal fistula repair, and mediastinal disease.
Benign Lung Disease & TB Surgery
Surgical treatment for benign lung conditions, including surgery for tuberculosis-related disease.
Clinical Research & Teaching
Peer-reviewed research and postgraduate teaching at Madras Medical College & Rajiv Gandhi Govt. General Hospital.
Milestones in minimally invasive thoracic surgery
First VATS lobectomy & pneumonectomy in the public healthcare sector in Tamil Nadu, at Madras Medical College / Rajiv Gandhi Government Hospital.
Instrumental in establishing VATS at Apollo Hospitals, Chennai.
Helped launch the Robotic Thoracic Surgery Program at Apollo Main Hospitals, Chennai, in September 2022.
Part of the first Asian team to win the ESTS Masters Cup in Thoracic Surgery, an international thoracic surgery quiz, in Portugal.
Performed 700+ major thoracic procedures at Apollo Hospitals, Chennai.
Selected publications
Kumar KS, Narasimhan A, Gopalakrishnan R, Geetha N, Thirunarayanan MA, Suryanarayanan P. "Coccidioidomycosis in Chennai."
Baliah M, Veeraiyan P, Narasimhan A, et al. Indian Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery.
Narasimhan A, Ayyanathan S, Krishnamoorthy R. "Re-discovering the Heimlich valve: Old wine in a new bottle."
Narasimhan A. "Interventional Pulmonologist and the Surgeon – A Symbiotic Relationship."
Appearances
Sun TVVanakkam Tamizha
Featured guest on Sun TV's Tamil morning talk show, discussing thoracic and cardiothoracic health.
YouTubeLung Cancer-க்கு இவ்வளவு Treatment இருக்கா?
Dr. Ajay Narasimhan's full explanation of lung cancer treatment options.
Kalaignar NewsVATS அறுவை சிகிச்சை என்றால் என்ன?
What is VATS surgery, and what are its benefits?
புகை பிடிப்பதால் வரும் நோய்கள்
How smoking-related illness can affect even those who've never smoked.
What patients say
After three hospitals called it too risky, Dr. Ajay said "No problem, I will handle it." His father's robotic lung surgery went smoothly, with no complications.
On her mother's lung tumour surgery: "he was such a wonderful person, we are blessed to have him."
Dr. Ajay explained every step and gave her the courage to go through with a robotic bronchogenic cyst surgery. Her recovery was smooth and well looked after.
Dr. Ajay removed her 70-year-old father's thymoma through the smallest incision and stayed reachable throughout. A month on, "he is getting stronger and healthier day by day."
Reviews shared publicly by patients and their families on Google.
Book a consultation with Dr. Ajay Narasimhan
For Appointments, reach out using the details below or send a request through the form.
Respiratory Research Foundation of India
20/33 Lake View Road, West Mambalam, Chennai – 600033
Apollo Hospitals
21, Greams Lane, Off Greams Road, Chennai – 600006