Raipur: The Department of Heart, Chest and Vascular Surgery at the state-run Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar Memorial Hospital, affiliated with Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Medical College, has successfully performed 13 lobectomy surgeries in the past two months. Of these, nine lung surgeries were completed within just 20 days.
The procedures included emergency surgeries on two patients suffering from hemoptysis (coughing up blood). Surgeons used advanced lung staplers to minimise post-operative complications such as bronchopleural fistula.
Dr. Krishnakant Sahu, Head of the Department of Heart, Chest and Vascular Surgery, explained that a lobectomy involves surgically removing a diseased lobe of the lung.
Dr. Sahu said that performing such a high volume of lobectomies in a short period marks a significant milestone for healthcare facilities in Chhattisgarh.
The patients treated ranged in age from 15 to 70 years. The youngest, a 15-year-old boy, underwent surgery to remove an Aspergilloma fungal infection from the upper lobe of his left lung.
In Chhattisgarh, the major conditions requiring lung removal surgeries include Aspergilloma and bronchiectasis, which are often associated with previous tuberculosis infections or weakened immunity. Aspergilloma, caused by the fungus Aspergillus niger, most commonly affects the upper right lung.
Other conditions that can cause hemoptysis and require surgical intervention include vascular malformations, lung abscesses and early-stage lung cancer.
The hospital normally performs around 15 to 20 lobectomy procedures annually. Patients from neighbouring states, including Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, also seek treatment at the facility for complex thoracic procedures such as decortication, segmentectomy and pneumonectomy.
All 13 surgeries were performed free of cost under the Ayushman Bharat Scheme. Patients generally recover and are discharged within six to eight days after surgery. Several more patients are currently scheduled for upcoming lung procedures at the unit.
