Microvascular onco-reconstruction surgery performed at AIIMS Jammu

Jammu, Oct 7: In a major medical milestone, doctors at AIIMS Vijaypur have performed their first successful microvascular onco-reconstructive surgery, marking a new era for advanced cancer treatment in Jammu and Kashmir.

The surgery was carried out on a 60-year-old woman, belonging to Budhi village of Kathua district, suffering from late-stage oral cancer. Following removal of the tumour along with part of the right cheek, palate, and upper jaw (maxilla), doctors reconstructed the defect using a microvascular free radial forearm flap.

In simple terms, this involved carefully taking skin and soft tissue along with tiny blood vessels from the patient’s forearm, and reconnecting them under a microscope to blood vessels in the face and neck.