Media Release

Mangaluru, Dec 14: Doctors at A J Hospital and Research Centre successfully performed the first video assisted thoracoscopic radical esophagectomy (surgery for cancer of the food pipe) recently.

This was done on a 37-year-old female hailing from Shivamogga district who was suffering from cancer of the food pipe which was initially treated with neo adjuvant chemotherapy and radiation. This is a minimally invasive form of surgery for esophageal cancer wherein the entire esophagus (food pipe) is mobilised inside the chest using three small holes (Video Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgey - VATS). The team of doctors involved 2 surgical gastroenterologists – Dr Rohan Shetty and Dr Ashwin Alva K and senior anaesthetist Dr Trivikram Tantry who provided with single lung ventilation using double lumen endotracheal tube.

There are several advantages of this less invasive modality of esophageal surgery compared to the conventional techniques of transhiatal (mobilising the esophagus blindly in the chest) and the thoracotomy approach (opening the chest). This technique avoids the opening of the chest which decreases the complications associated with it like lung infections, atelectasis, pleural effusion, pneumonia etc which in turn leads to faster recovery of the patient. It also is less painful and cosmetically more appealing as ugly scars can be avoided. Faster recovery and mobilisation of the patient translates into lesser hospital stay as well as cost effective technique when compared to the traditional modalities.

A J Hospital constantly strives to raise the bar on patient care by imbibing the latest cutting edge technology blended with skill and expertise. We extend full support to our team of doctors in their quest for scaling new heights in the days to come.