The Hindu Business Line : Manipal hospital keyhole surgery for food pipe cancers

The super specialty Surgical Gastroenterology department at Manipal Hospital has introduced minimally invasive or `keyhole surgery' for cancers of the food pipe. The first such surgery was conducted on a 72-year-old male patient successfully.

The food pipe or esophagus, is a tube that connects the throat to the stomach. The esophagus, like the rest of the body, is made up of cells and some of these cells can grow into tumours. Cancers of the esophagus is reported amongst the top three cancers in males and in top five amongst females in India. Esophageal cancer can also spread to other parts of the body, such as the liver, lungs, brain and bones.

The traditional way to treat this disease has been an open surgery called Esophagectomy, wherein the food pipe is removed by performing an open chest operation to access the intra-thoracic oesophagus. Surgery for esophageal disorders carries risks that include infection, bleeding and leakage from the area where the remaining esophagus is reattached.

Dr G. Srikanth, Consultant Surgical Gastroenterologist, Manipal Hospital informed, "Minimally Invasive Esophagectomy (MIE), means less trauma to the body, less blood loss, smaller surgical scars and less need for pain medication. Patients return to normal activities sooner after minimally invasive surgery than after conventional open surgery."

He said, "The minimally invasive approach would potentially reduce complications associated with the older morbid procedure and speed up recovery. With an aim to avoid the potential complications of open thoracic approach, mobilisation of the esophagus under direct vision (thoracoscopic esophageal mobilisation) is being used by leading hospitals worldwide."

Traditional Esophagectomy results from most series include mortality rates in excess of 5 per cent and less duration of stay in the hospital. MIE may not be the best option for all patients and surgeons would first discuss all options with a patient.

More Stories on : Health | Medical Institutions & Hospitals | Karnataka

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page