Agartala: In a groundbreaking achievement, a team of Head and Neck Oncology specialists at the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Regional Cancer Centre (ABVRCC) in Agartala, Tripura, successfully performed the state’s first total thyroidectomy and tracheal resection surgery on November 22. This pioneering effort has opened up new avenues for advanced cancer treatment within the state.
A 65-year-old woman from Gomati district, who was battling stage-four thyroid cancer, underwent the complex surgery. Initially treated at a district hospital, she was referred to ABVRCC for advanced care. The oncology team, led by Dr. Amlan Debbarma, promptly performed an emergency tracheostomy to stabilize her breathing after evaluating her condition through bronchoscopy and MRI.
The six-hour surgery involved the removal of the cancer-affected thyroid gland and trachea, followed by tracheal reconstruction using an intricate anastomosis technique. This high-risk procedure, typically performed in advanced cancer cases, was successfully executed by the multidisciplinary surgical team. The team included Dr. Rakesh Tripura, Dr. Rahul De, Dr. Bhaskar Roy, Dr. Saikat Sen, and Dr. Mousumi Shil, with anesthesia support provided by Dr. Debashis Debroy and Dr. Mrinal Debbarma.
The Director of the Health Department commended the team’s efforts, highlighting that such surgeries are often prohibitively expensive in private hospitals outside the state. The patient’s family expressed heartfelt gratitude to the medical team for providing cutting-edge cancer care locally. This achievement underscores the growing capabilities of Tripura’s healthcare infrastructure, providing hope for patients seeking advanced medical treatment within the state.