Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 22: In a groundbreaking surgical achievement, doctors at the Government Superspeciality Hospital in Jammu successfully performed a complex surgery to remove a rare and large chondrosarcoma tumor from a patient’s sternum (breastbone) and adjacent ribs.
The challenging procedure involved the complete excision of the tumor and subsequent reconstruction of the sternum and ribs using the patient’s fibula bones and titanium plates. The patient, a 48-year-old woman who had been suffering from chest pain and a hard bony swelling for over three years, had previously sought treatment at multiple hospitals outside the state, but none undertook the high-risk surgery.
The surgery was led by Dr Shyam Singh, HoD Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery. Preoperative scans revealed the tumor had extensively damaged the patient’s sternum, growing into adjacent structures and eroding the bone. Dr Singh highlighted the rarity of such tumors and the challenges of reconstructing the sternum and ribs post-excision.
To reconstruct the sternum, the team harvested bones (fibulae) from the patient’s legs, reshaped them to resemble the sternum, and fixed them using titanium plates and screws. This delicate reconstruction was supported by Dr Abdul Ghani from the Department of Orthopedics, alongside Dr Sukhil Raina and Dr Himanshu.
Professor Dr Puja Vimesh, chief of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Anesthesia, explained the complexities of the procedure, noting that the removal of the sternum and ribs exposed the heart and lungs, making it critical to maintain stable vital parameters. The patient was placed on ventilator support overnight and successfully extubated the following morning. She was then monitored in the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit by a highly skilled team of nurses and technicians.
The cost of the procedure, including equipment and medication, was covered under the Ayushman Bharat scheme, ensuring the patient received top-notch care without financial strain.
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