Bhubaneswar: A team of doctors at the Institute of Medical Sciences and SUM Hospital, Campus-2, in Phulnakhara, has successfully performed a rare surgery to unblock a clogged airway of a 40-year-old cancer patient.
The patient, a resident of Niali in Cuttack district, had been suffering from throat cancer and had undergone surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy in 2024. However, he developed breathing difficulties and excessive coughing two months ago.
When the patient was admitted to the hospital’s Pulmonary Medicine department on August 1, his oxygen saturation level had dropped to 84%. A chest CT scan revealed bilateral hilar lung masses, and a video bronchoscopy report showed that the right main bronchus was completely blocked due to tumour growth.
Given the patient’s critical condition, the medical team decided to perform a central airway tumour debulking procedure. The surgery was conducted in two stages, first on August 2 and then on August 7. Under general anaesthesia, the team used advanced cryo probe and electrocautery technology to remove the tumour and unblock the airway carefully.
After the surgery, the patient’s oxygen saturation level returned to normal. Dr. Swadesh Kumar Mohanty, Associate Professor of Pulmonary Medicine, credited the success of the treatment to the use of advanced equipment and technology. The surgery was performed under the leadership of Dr. Sudip Mohapatra, Head of the department, and with the collaboration of a team of doctors, including Dr Rachita Mahanty, Dr Suryasankar Meher, and Dr Rajkumar Behera.
The team emphasised the importance of timely intervention in such cases, as every moment counts when the airway is completely blocked. The successful surgery has given the patient a new lease on life, and it showcases the expertise of the doctors at IMS and SUM Hospital in performing complex procedures.
