Kolkata: Medica Superspecialty Hospital made an remarkable medical achievement on 11th September. In a single operating theater, a dual surgery involving a Lower Segment Cesarian Section and the removal of a Brain Tumor was successfully performed on a 24-year old woman named Babita Devi, hailing from Samastipur, Bihar. This complex procedure was executed by a dedicated team of specialists, including Dr. LN. Tripathy, Director of Medica Institute of Neurological Diseases (MIND); alongside Dr. Sunandan Basu, Senior Consultant, Neurosurgeon, Medica Superspecialty Hospital; Dr. Souptik Gangopadhyay, Consultant, Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Medica Superspecialty Hospital; Anesthetist Dr. Amiya Mishra and Dr. Upasana Naskar with Dr. Nicola Judith Flynn, MD, Head of the Department of Pediatrics and Neonatology at Medica Superspecialty Hospital.
Babita Devi, 24 years old, was initially admitted to AIIMS, Patna in August 2023, where she underwent a shunt operation. The doctors discharged her with the intention of addressing her brain tumor later, if necessary. However, when Dr. Sunandan Basu evaluated her condition at ESI-Kolkata, it became evident that she was not doing well. Since Patna lacked an ESI setup, Dr. Basu took upon the case. When Babita Devi arrived at Medica Superspecialty Hospital to seek treatment, she was in her 32nd week of pregnancy with her third child. To ensure the safety of both mother and baby, doctors initiated a course of steroids to facilitate the baby’s growth in the womb, a necessary step before any surgery could be performed. Within 2-3 days, it became apparent in the ICU that the patient’s condition was rapidly declining, with the brain tumor exerting pressure on the brain stem, which controls vital functions such as heart rate, breathing, consciousness, swallowing, and limb movement. On this critical day, the proficient team at Medica Superspecialty Hospital held a medical board to plan the line of treatment. Following discussions with Obstetrician Dr. Souptik Gangopadhyay, they opted to proceed with a Lower Segment Cesarean Section before the brain tumor surgery. Dr. Nicola Judith Flynn took care of the newborn immediately after delivery, while the other medical professionals embarked on the brain tumor operation within the same operating theater. Given the tumor’s location at the back of the brain, the surgery required approximately 4 hours and was successfully completed.
In reference to the successful operation, Dr. L.N. Tripathy, Director of Medica Institute of Neurological Diseases (MIND), emphasized, “Undertaking this operation was undeniably challenging, and as the patient’s condition continued to worsen, it became increasingly imperative to proceed promptly. Both surgeries were performed in the specialized Neurosurgery Operation Theater, equipped with a comprehensive array of monitoring, and state-of-the-art equipment, including Neuro-navigation, a microscope, and the CUSA (Cavitron Ultrasonic Surgical Aspirator), all of which are readily available to our patients at MIND. I am delighted that the family has been reunited and is now cherishing precious moments with their newborn baby girl.”
Dr. Sunandan Basu, Senior Consultant Neurosurgeon at Medica Superspecialty Hospital, expressed, “Upon my initial assessment of the patient at ESI, I comprehended the gravity of the situation and promptly accepted the case, as it is our solemn responsibility to preserve lives. I am fortunate to be supported by a highly proficient team at Medica, who came together to ensure the success of this operation. Given that the patient was in her 32nd week of pregnancy, we administered steroids to facilitate the baby’s growth, which yielded positive results. The complexity of the procedure was amplified by the tumor’s location at the posterior part of the brain. Nevertheless, our unwavering dedication led to the complete removal of the tumor. Both the patient and her baby were discharged seven days post-surgery.”
Dr. Souptik Gangopadhyay, Consultant, Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Medica Superspecialty Hospital, stated, “Performing the operation was challenging due to the patient’s 32-week pregnancy, but it was a necessary step given the seriousness of the patient’s condition, which posed potential risks to both the mother’s and the fetus’s well-being. It is indeed heartening to witness that we could save both the mother and the newborn baby while having the tumor removed.”
Mr. R. Udayan Lahiry, Managing Director, Medica Group of Hospitals, shared, “I extend my best wishes for the mother and newborn and pray for their good health and well-being. At Medica, our steadfast commitment lies in providing our patients with the utmost quality of care, supported by our comprehensive range of cutting-edge medical technology. I congratulate the team of doctors who have taken utmost care and ensured wellbeing of the mother and the child at the same time.”
Mr. Ayanabh Debgupta, Joint Managing Director of the Medica Group of Hospitals, conveyed, “In the realm of healthcare, our primary responsibility is the preservation of life. In this instance, it was a matter of safeguarding two precious lives. I take immense pride in our hospital’s achievement, as we successfully performed both surgeries in the same operating theatre, ultimately saving the lives of both the mother and her baby. This accomplishment stands as a testament to the unwavering dedication of our medical professionals, demonstrating that with commitment, the seemingly impossible becomes achievable. I extend my heartfelt congratulations to the entire team that executed these operations, and we extend our best wishes to Babita Devi and her family for a healthy and prosperous future.”
Babita Devi, who is improving, expressed her gratitude, saying, “I want to thank all the doctors at Medica, who helped in saving our lives. They gave me hope from the beginning of my treatment. I’m happy for this new start in my life, and my baby daughter is healthy too.”
