Ahmedabad, May 12, 2015: The relentless efforts of specialists from Narayana Multispeciality
Hospital Ahmedabad have given a new lease of life to a 43-year-old man hailing from Bhuj.
When referred to the hospital, the patient was diagnosed with advanced Thyroid Gland Cancer and his surgery was fraught with complications. Team of experts led by Dr. Nirav Trivedi –
Consultant, Head and Neck Surgery planned a step-by-step procedure, which was supported by
Dr. Girish Shetkar – Consultant, Cranio-Maxillio Facial Surgery; Dr. Nishant Upadhyay -
Consultant, Head and Neck Surgery and crucial role played by Dr. Atul Maslekar – Senior
Cardiac Surgeon. The cancer had spread to his voice box (larynx), food pipe (esophagus) and breathing pipe (trachea) and backbone (causing compression over nerve), when he visited the hospital.
The patient noticed swelling in his neck a few years ago, but did not resort to treatment as it was painless. The swelling continued to grow to a size of 10x10 cm but did not cause any pain still. He gradually started developing breathing problems, after which he visited a local hospital, where he was given symptomatic treatment (medical therapy of a disease that only affects its symptoms), since the tumor was too large to operate. He also received radiotherapy to reduce the pain in the backbone. However his condition worsened till he visited Narayana
Multispeciality Hospital.
Though the patient was appropriately treated, the team of doctors from Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Cardiology and Cranio Maxillio-Facial Surgery planned the surgery to help him get cancer free. The patient and the family were explained about the possible complications before he was taken for the surgery. Few technical issues were considered which involved administering anesthesia, since the patient could succumb to respiratory arrest. It took the team about two hours to insert a fiber-optic endoscope to anesthetize the patient as it was not possible to bypass the airway and breathing pipe, where the cancer had spread.
Talking about the case, Dr. Nirav Trivedi – Consultant Head and Neck Surgery at Narayana
Multispeciality Hospital said, “In India, unfortunately, 60% of the head and neck cancer cases are presented in an advanced stage. In this case as well, the patient came to us with advanced cancer and we had to consider several factors, such as, the complexity presented by the case, the age of the patient and his dependents. Our team had many technical issues to consider during the complex procedure, however step by step planning and preempting hurdles led to successful treatment.”

The first hurdle during the surgery was to evaluate the tumor, whether it could be separated from major blood vessels. The carotid artery (supplies blood to brain) and jugular vein and subclavian vein (vessels draining bad blood from brain and hand) were attached to the tumor, which was dangerous area to operate and if damaged could lead to threatening bleeding. The cardiac team was also involved to isolate the tumor and from the major blood vessels. The next step was the removal of the tumor where a part of the voice box (larynx); upper part of breathing pipe (trachea) and outer wall of the esophagus were removed. Both the side neck glands were also removed. The doctors then reconstructed the esophagus with muscles from surrounding areas and the breathing pipe was sutured to provide a new airway.
The patient recovered well in the post-operative phase. He moved around in a couple of days and started eating in ten days. He has lost his voice for the time being but the experts plan to insert artificial voice box in few months’ time. He will receive radio-iodine treatment to clear disease elsewhere in his body.
Integration of multiple specialists including Head and Neck Onco-Surgeon, Cardiologist and
Maxillio Facial Surgeon provided excellent treatment outcome in this case.
The Department of Head and Neck Cancer at Narayana Multispeciality Hospital Ahmedabad has a team of globally recognized specialists. The state-of-the-art facility at the hospital is equipped with latest treatment modalities to treat head and neck cancer.
About Narayana Health
About Narayana Health, one among India’s largest healthcare service providers and also one of the world’s most economical, is set to emerge as a global industry model for its ability to reconcile quality, affordability, scale, transparency, credibility and profitability. With all super-speciality tertiary care facilities that the medical world offers, it is now a one-stop healthcare destination for all.
From a humble beginning of a 225 bed hospital in 2001, Narayana Health group of hospitals has grown to become a 6498 beds healthcare conglomerate with 32 hospitals across 20 cities in India including Health City Cayman
Islands in Grand Cayman (North America).
About Narayana Multispeciality Hospital, Ahmedabad
Narayana Multispeciality Hospital, Ahmedabad, is a 300-bed multispeciality tertiary care hospital located at
Rakhiyal Cross road offering high quality medical care to local and international patients. The hospital has the infrastructure and expertise to treat patients in any clinical specialty including critical care medicine.
Equipped with fully comprehensive unit across all high-end specialties, the hospital offers specialized ancillary services such as Pathology, Radiology and Imaging, Physiotherapy, Dialysis and Dietetics among others diagnostic facilities, which ensure hassle-free treatment for patients. The hospital has Advanced Operation theatres (OTs) with dedicated OTs for each super-specialty with equipment for managing highly complicated surgeries and the
ICUs are also designed with special infection control protocols.