Fortis hospital Cunningham road reportedly completed world’s first triple surgery

 Heart Disease, gallstones, and colon cancer were simultaneously conducted, on a 44-year-old

Fortis hospital Cunningham road successfully conducted reportedly the world’s first simultaneous three simultaneous triple surgery involving, Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG), gallbladder stone removal, and colon cancer surgery in one session. 

The procedures were performed on a 44-year-old patient; Kopparam, by a team led by Dr Vivek Jawali, Chairman-Cardiac Sciences, Fortis Hospitals, Bengaluru and Dr Ganesh Shenoy, Director-GI, Minimal Access & Bariatric surgery, Fortis Hospital, Cunningham Road Bengaluru. 

According to the statement, the patient had a history of diabetes and heart disease, and was diagnosed with gallstones following persistent abdominal pain. Further tests revealed colon cancer, complicating his treatment due to his heart condition managed with blood thinners.

The release further informed, “the medical team decided to perform all three surgeries in a single session. CABG was conducted first to stabilise the heart, followed by surgeries for colon cancer and gallstones. This approach avoided a potential three-month delay for cancer treatment, which was critical due to the tumor’s progression.”

Dr Jawali, said, “We employed a specialised surgical technique known as OPCAB (Off-Pump Coronary Artery Bypass) with 4 grafts (blood vessels that are transplanted into a patient’s body to repair or replace damaged ones) to perform the heart surgery. This method, unlike traditional approaches, eliminates the need for a heart-lung machine. We carefully monitored the heart and gave medications to keep the blood pressure and sugar levels normal during the surgery. We took 4 blood vessels from the patient’s body to create new pathways around the blocked arteries in the heart. This helped improve blood flow to the heart muscle. The whole surgery took about 260 minutes (a little over 4 hours), and the patient was stable.”

Further, Dr Shenoy, stated, “ Utilising advanced laparoscopic techniques, we executed a laparoscopic extended right hemicolectomy (LERHC) to remove a portion of the colon affected by cancer, along with a laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) for the removal of gallbladder stones. This intricate procedure demanded precise coordination and multi-disciplinary approach due to the complexity of colon cancer surgery, yet it minimised surgical risks and facilitated a smoother and faster recovery for the patient. This comprehensive approach was essential to address all his health concerns at once.”

The patient was discharged 15 days after surgery and has since resumed normal activities without complications.