In a post-Covid world, many people are scared any time there is a health scare. Understandably, it is difficult for those going through it.
However, there are many advancements being made every other day to highlight how there are an equal number of medical miracles that can give people hope.
Surgical removal of a 2.5 kg tumour
In the most recent example, a 41-year-old woman from Thane has successfully undergone a complex surgical procedure to remove a massive 2.5-kilogram hemangioma liver tumour from her liver at the hospital.
The woman who underwent the surgery at Jupiter Lifeline Hospital in the same city, had been living with the condition unknowingly for many years. Hemangiomas are benign tumours composed of blood vessels and typically remain small and asymptomatic. They predominantly affect adults between 30 and 50 years of age, with causes still not fully understood. The tumours are often detected incidentally during imaging tests for unrelated conditions. However, in this case, the tumour grew significantly, leading to persistent abdominal discomfort and early satiety.
The woman, who wishes to remain anonymous, said, “I had been experiencing a dull ache in my abdomen for months, along with a feeling of fullness after eating small meals, but I never imagined it was something serious,” she shared, continuing, “When the doctors revealed the size of the tumour, I was shocked. I am incredibly grateful to the medical team for detecting and treating it in time.”
The presence of the tumour came to light when the health experts at the hospital conducted a CT scan. Given the size of the tumour, the doctors said a surgery was necessary.
Dr Gaurav Patel, the lead surgeon on the case, highlighted the complexities involved in the procedure. “Hemangiomas of this size are extremely rare, and their removal requires meticulous surgical planning. The risks of complications are high, but through careful execution and precision, we were able to successfully remove the tumor while preserving the liver’s function.”
The surgery lasted over four hours and involved advanced techniques to minimize risks and facilitate a smooth recovery. Dr Ankush Golhar, who assisted in the procedure, emphasised the importance of preserving liver functionality. “Our primary focus was to ensure that the patient’s liver remained fully functional post-surgery. We are pleased with the outcome, and her recovery has been remarkable.”
Complex heart surgery on girl with hole in the heart
While that was in Thane, there was another one in Parel, where a rare and life-saving feat saw a team of doctors at Bai Jerbai Wadia Hospital for children, successfully performed a complex hybrid heart surgery on a four-a-half-year-old girl, who was diagnosed with a hole in her heart just two months after birth. Led by Dr Biswa Panda, paediatric cardiac surgeon, along with the cath lab team headed by Dr Kshitij Seth, and Dr Jain, the team carried out a periventricular VSD device closure along with pulmonary artery augmentation on bypass.
It has been a four-year journey for the parents, Akash and Mamta Maurya, residents of Kandivali. While they were overjoyed in 2021 after the birth of their baby girl Saanvi, everything appeared normal at first, but just 10 days after her birth, the parents noticed rapid breathing. Concerned, they took her to a nearby doctor, who, after a thorough examination, the 2D Echo test confirmed that their baby had a hole in her heart.
At the time, she had a large, difficult-to-reach hole in her heart (Ventricular Septal Defect), which was causing severe heart failure. She struggled to breathe, couldn’t feed properly, and wasn’t growing. Even though her condition was life-threatening, she was too fragile to undergo a major open-heart surgery at that stage. To stabilise her at the age of three and a half months, doctors performed a temporary PA banding surgery that helped reduce the stress on her heart and allowed her to grow stronger.
The hole in her heart made everyday life a constant struggle as she would get tired even with minimal activity and couldn’t play or run around like other kids her age. Most of her time was spent indoors, under constant care and supervision. She required regular check-ups, medications, and close monitoring. Her parents were emotionally shattered, watching her miss out on the joys of childhood.
As she grew older and turned four and a half years old, the surgery was possible. However, it was high-risk and would usually last 7–8 hours with extended recovery time. In an innovative move, the doctors opted for a hybrid procedure, combining catheter-based and open-heart techniques. Using advanced transesophageal echo guidance during surgery, a device was inserted directly into the heart to close the VSD, followed by surgical enlargement of the pulmonary artery. This approach reduced the total surgery time to just 2.5–3 hours, improving recovery and saving the life of the baby. If left untreated, VSD complications can lead to severe heart failure, stunted growth, and breathing difficulties. In critical cases, it can become life-threatening for the child.
Dr Biswa said, “Periventricular VSD closures like this occur in only about one in a lakh open-heart surgeries. VSD closures themselves are uncommon in children and performing them through a hybrid approach is even rarer. Such a complex hybrid surgery typically happens only once every 4 to 5 years. Such a procedure is only possible when there is perfect coordination between skilled teams, modern infrastructure, and precise imaging technologies.”
The child’s father Akash was overwhelmed with gratitude. Expressing his relief, he shared, “Seeing our daughter struggle every single day was heartbreaking. She couldn’t play, she would tire easily, and most of her time was spent indoors while other children ran around freely. We felt helpless as parents, watching her miss out on a normal childhood. But this surgery gave her a second chance at life. Today, seeing her breathe with ease, smile without pain, and talk excitedly about going to school and playing with friends is a dream come true. We will forever be grateful to the doctors for giving our little girl the life she truly deserves.
