Cancerous cardiac tumour removed from patient's heart

Bangalore, June 21 (UNI) In a unique surgery that lasted for more than five hours, doctors at Wockhardt Hospitals, successfully removed large cancerous cardiac tumour measuring 8X10X12 cms from the heart of a 22 year-old man hailing from Rajasthan.

Briefing newspersons about the case, it was the first time in the world when a tumour was removed from the heart, Wockhardt Hospitals Bangalore Head Lloyd Nazareth said after a thorough examination it was found that only three cases of primitive neuroectodermal (PN) tumour was found worldwide earlier and it was for the first time that it was operated and removed.

Wockhardt consultant Cardiovascular Surgeon N S Devananda, who performed the surgery said, ''the patient Prabhu Ram (22) complained of breathing difficulties, high fever for about two weeks and his face was swollen.

After a CT guided biopsy it was found that he had PN tumour arising from both the upper chambers of the heart, which blocked the blood flow into chambers of the heart and the right lung.'' He said it was one of the most technically challenging and creative operating procedures. The chance of tumour recurring was less but could be ruled out. To avoid this we had put the patient through chemo and radio therapy, he added.

Ram said he was so sick that he was not even able to lie down. Now he was feeling much better and could walk without anybody's support.

The procedure costed him Rs 2.32 lakh after some discounts, he said.

UNI