Mangalore: Surgery involving removal of five organs done to cure pancreatic cancer

Media Release

Mangalore, Jul 22: A 55-year-old patient underwent a unique radical surgery for advanced pancreatic cancer at Yenepoya Hospital.

Dr Vijay Ramachandran

The pancreatic cancer had infiltrated surrounding organs and was otherwise deemed unresectable. However, in a gruelling 7-hour long surgery, performed by a team of doctors led by Dr Vijay Ramachandran, surgical gastroenterologist and hepatopancreatobiliary surgeon, the patient underwent resection of five vital organs viz the pancreas, stomach, spleen, colon and the adrenal gland to completely remove the tumour.

The procedure, termed left upper abdominal evisceration (LUAE) entails removal of most of the organs in the left upper part of the abdomen. It is done only when these organs are afflicted with advanced cancer especially of the stomach or pancreas. This procedure is rarely performed owing to its complex nature and morbidity associated with it. However, in selected cases, as this one, it gives the only ray of hope to the patient. The patient tolerated the procedure well and is doing fine.

Radical surgery for all types of advanced gastrointestinal, pancreatic and liver cancers, which are otherwise deemed inoperable, are commonly being performed by the department of surgical gastroenterology & hepatopancreatobiliary surgery at Yenepoya Hospital, Kodialbail and Yenepoya Medical College, Deralakatte.