Doctors at the Regional Cancer Centre at the Coimbatore Medical College and Hospital (CMCH) recently performed a rare surgery on 38-year-old Murugesh (name changed).

The patient, a resident of Pudukottai, was diagnosed with cancer in the post-cricoid area, about two-years ago. He was a chronic smoker. Post-cricoids area is the junction where the throat, voice box, wind pipe and food pipe meet. Cancer in this area can result in removing the organs associated with the post-cricoids area. However, prompt diagnosis of this cancer and radiotherapy kept the Murugesh’s cancer in the post-cricoids area under control.

A procedure called Laryngo Pharyngo Esophhagectomy, with total gastric pull up and joining the stomach with the base of the tongue was performed. As part of this complex procedure, the throat, larynx, and entire food pipe, a part of the stomach, and about 3-cms of the upper wind pipe were successfully removed and reconstructed by the team of doctors at CMCH.

Following the surgery, Murugesh lost his voice. This is the first time such a complex procedure was performed at the CMCH. The surgery lasted for six hours and the patient was back on his feet on the eight day. He was subsequently discharged from the hospital. Currently, Murugesh visits the CMCH for follow up treatment.

“Murugesh was undergoing radiotherapy at CMCH for the last eight-months. Despite undergoing treatment, Murugesh was unable to speak or breathe properly due to the damage to his voice box. He was also unable to swallow food properly as his food pipe too was affected. This is a clear sign of relapse of cancer. After discussing the case with the Tumour Board, we went ahead and performed this challenging surgery. Currently, Murugesh is recovering,” Dr A. Suresh Venkatachalam, Head of Department, Regional Cancer Centre at Coimbatore Medical College and Hospital (CMCH), said.

The team of doctors, led by Dr A. Suresh, including Dr. G. Balamurgan, Dr. K.S. Rajkumar Dr. Shantha A., and Dr. B. Asokan performed the surgery.