In a stunning display of cutting-edge surgical skill, a 60-year-old patient with highly advanced ovarian cancer underwent a 10-hour, high-risk procedure at Manipal Hospital in Saltlake. The case was extremely complicated because the patient, Rina Ganguly (name changed), had cancer that had spread widely throughout the abdominal cavity and had even reached the lymph nodes in the chest. The third most common cancer among Indian women, ovarian cancer is known as a “silent killer” because it rarely exhibits symptoms in its early stages, often leading to an advanced diagnosis. The most important prognostic factor in enhancing survival outcomes in these situations is undergoing ultra-radical surgery to eradicate all visible disease.

An experienced multidisciplinary team consisting of anesthetists, intensive care unit specialists, and nurses assisted Dr. Arunava Roy, Consultant, Gynecologic Onco-Surgery, Manipal Hospital, Saltlake, in leading the operation alongside his colleagues Dr. Arunashis Mallick and Dr.Neha Agarwal. The team chose an upfront radical surgery strategy to achieve zero residual disease—that is, no discernible tumor remains in the body after surgery—after clinical evaluation and anesthesia approval. This strategy may entail operating on multiple major organs, depending on the extent and severity of cancer.

One unit of blood transfusion was all that was required, despite the lengthy and complex procedure, which began at 8 AM and ended at 6 PM. The anesthesia team kept the patient under constant observation and maintained a stable condition throughout the procedure. She received critical care support in the intensive care unit (ICU) following the surgery, and within 48 hours, she was moved to the high dependency unit (HDU).

In this instance, the patient’s speedy and uneventful recovery was noteworthy. She was able to walk, bathe, eat a regular diet, and even use the restroom on her own within six days of the surgery. After a complete postoperative recovery with no complications, she was released from the hospital in a stable state.

This instance demonstrates the hospital’s proficiency in treating stage IV cancers using a comprehensive, interdisciplinary approach, reaffirming Manipal Hospital, Saltlake’s commitment to offering top-notch cancer care.

Priyanka Dutta