Jammu, April 10:
In a significant boost to the healthcare landscape of the region, the Department of Surgical Gastroenterology at AIIMS Jammu has successfully performed a complex re-do liver surgery on a 58-year-old patient. The procedure marks a major breakthrough in the institute’s ability to handle high-risk hepatobiliary cases that previously required travel to distant metro cities.
The Challenge: A Recurring Battle
The patient, a 58-year-old female, was diagnosed with a recurrent neuroendocrine tumor of the liver. Her medical history made the case particularly precarious:
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2021: She underwent a left lateral hepatectomy (removal of segments 2 & 3) at a different facility.
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Present: The tumor returned, this time appearing in segments 6 & 7.
Re-do surgeries are notoriously difficult due to dense adhesions (scar tissue from previous operations) and altered anatomy, which significantly increase the risk of intraoperative complications.
Precision Planning & Execution
The case was managed through a rigorous Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) approach. To ensure the patient’s safety, the surgical team utilized:
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High-definition liver imaging to map the tumor’s exact location.
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Liver volumetry to calculate and ensure the patient would have enough healthy liver tissue remaining to function after the surgery.
The team, led by Dr. Sahil Sandal (Officiating Head of Surgical Gastroenterology) and Dr. Akash Salaria, performed a Right Posterior Sectionectomy. The anesthesia and critical care support, vital for such a prolonged and delicate procedure, was headed by Dr. Slomi Gupta.
“This was a technically demanding re-do liver resection,” said Dr. Sandal. “Prior surgery significantly increases complexity, but with careful planning, we were able to achieve a successful outcome.”
| Feature | Details |
| Procedure | Right Posterior Sectionectomy (Segments 6 & 7) |
| Condition | Recurrent Neuroendocrine Tumor |
| Patient Status | Successfully discharged on the 9th postoperative day |
| Lead Surgeon | Dr. Sahil Sandal |
A Vision for Local Specialized Care
Prof (Dr) D N Sharma, ED & CEO of AIIMS Jammu, hailed the achievement as a “significant milestone.” He emphasized that the success of this surgery underscores the institute’s growing capability to manage complex Gastrointestinal (GI) and Hepatopancreatobiliary (HPB) cases locally.
For residents of Jammu and Kashmir, this means a reduced need to travel outside the Union Territory for specialized, life-saving oncological surgeries. The patient has since been discharged and is on the road to recovery.
