Advanced endoscopic technique helps save life of cancer patient

Srinagar, Aug 13: Paras Health Srinagar which received an advanced case of colon cancer treated the patient with the help of advanced endoscopic technique.

A middle aged female was diagnosed with cancer of colon (large intestine) two years back. She had previously undergone colonic resection (surgery) followed by chemotherapy at hospitals in Delhi and Mumbai, but the disease had recurred.

She came to Paras hospital with severe pain in abdomen and couldn’t eat anything for one week. On evaluation it was diagnosed that the disease of the large intestine has regrown (recurred) and had blocked a stent which was placed previously in the large intestine at the cancer site. Patient was in acute large bowel obstruction.

“Bowel obstruction is a disease which requires surgical treatment in most of the cases. But the said patient had undergone two abdominal surgeries previously and to re-operate in such a case would have led to a permanent colostomy (stoma) for the rest of her life. Moreover such surgery would have compromised her quality of life,” a statement said.

The case was discussed with the team of gastroenterology (Dr Wahid Akbar) and Oncology division (Dr Sheikh Zahoor and Dr. Shah Naveed) and a plan of colonic coaxial stenting was discussed and surgical stoma was kept as a backup option for the patient as she was in acute obstruction.

“Colonic coaxial stenting is an advanced endoscopic technique in which a metallic stent (called SEMS) is passed through the tumor site which has blocked the intestine and gradually under endoscopic and fluoroscopic guidance the stent is opened inside the tumor to open up the blocked portion of intestine, hence relieving the obstruction. Such endoscopic procedures require expert and experienced hands which are available in Paras hospital .There is a risk of colonic perforation (bursting of intestine) during such a procedure when performed in acute obstruction.”

Dr Wahid Akbar, Consultant Gastroenterology Paras Srinagar, was tasked with the complex procedure and the procedure was successful. “The metallic stent (SEMS) was placed inside the tumor site and the patient was relieved of obstruction.

Moreover the patient started eating after 12 hrs and was discharged in good health after 36hrs of procedure. Such cases are rare in Kashmir Valley and this might be the first case performed in any of the corporate hospitals of the valley. Paras Health with its expert team of Gastroenterology & Oncology is committed to serve the patient community of the valley with compassion, affordability, accessibility and excellence.”