In a life-or-death race against time, doctors at the Institute of Medical Sciences and SUM Hospital, Campus-2, performed a rare, high-risk airway surgery that restored the breath — and life — of a 40-year-old cancer survivor from Niali, Cuttack.
The patient, who had bravely fought cancer of the tongue with surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation in 2024, began facing a new battle just two months ago. Gradually worsening breathlessness and severe cough led to a crisis: by August 1, his oxygen levels had plummeted to 84% on room air.
A Critical Diagnosis
A CT scan revealed bilateral hilar lung masses. A video bronchoscopy uncovered the real danger — a complete blockage of the right main bronchus by tumor growth, cutting off airflow to his entire right lung.
“This was a time-critical situation. When the airway is completely blocked, every second counts,” explained Dr. Swadesh Kumar Mohanty, Associate Professor, Department of Pulmonary Medicine, and lead surgeon for the case. “The challenge is to restore breathing without causing further injury — that’s where advanced bronchoscopic tools make all the difference.”
A Two-Stage Lifesaving Procedure
Given the urgency, the team opted for central airway tumor debulking, one of the most technically demanding procedures in interventional pulmonology.
The surgery was performed in two stages — on August 2 and August 7 — under general anaesthesia, using a cutting-edge combination of cryo probe and electrosnare technology. This allowed surgeons to carefully remove the tumor and reopen the airway without damaging delicate surrounding structures.
The results were dramatic: post-surgery, the patient’s oxygen saturation surged to 98% on room air, bringing immediate relief.
Teamwork That Saved a Life
The Pulmonary Medicine team — Dr. Mohanty, Dr. Rachita Mohanty, Dr. Surjya Shankar Meher, and Dr. Rajkrishna Behera — worked in seamless coordination with the Anaesthesia team, led by HOD Dr. Sudeep Mohapatra. They were supported by Dr. Jagdish Jena, Dr. Ranjita Bokshy, Dr. Prajna Nanda, Dr. Rohan Roshan Nayak, and Dr. Pratyasha Nayak.
A Leap in Odisha’s Healthcare
This complex airway surgery reflects the visionary leadership of Prof. (Dr.) Manojranjan Nayak, Founder President of Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan Deemed to be University, whose dedication to modern healthcare infrastructure in Odisha has made such advanced interventions possible within the state.
Central airway tumor debulking with cryo and electrosnare is available in only a few centres in Odisha — and this successful case marks another milestone for IMS and SUM Hospital in offering world-class, life-saving interventional pulmonology services.