At 85, when most people hope for quiet, comfortable days, a woman named Lakshmi (name changed) found herself in the emergency room, battling severe abdominal pain and an inability to pass stools for days. However, as discomfort turned into distress, she and her entire family found themselves nervous and uncertain about what was to come next.
Initial Diagnosis and Immediate Relief
She was first found to have a blockage in the sigmoid colon caused by a tumor, which was critical and could even lead to death. The first step had to be addressing her pain. Additionally, there was limited time to provide an accurate answer for someone in her age range, who had multiple existing health problems such as hypertension and diabetes, and had previously suffered a stroke, which put her on blood thinners. This meant every decision had to be made with utmost caution.
To provide immediate relief, doctors performed a minimally invasive procedure and placed a colonic stent. Immediately, her discomfort was alleviated, providing some relief for both her and her family. But that was just the start of a much more difficult road ahead.
Unexpected Discovery of Second Tumor
More tests uncovered surprising results. In addition to colon cancer, she had been diagnosed with another tumor located in her esophagus (leiomyoma). Her diagnosis became even more complex for her family members, as two different tumors were detected in an elderly patient suffering from several diseases.
The medical team, led by Dr. K Hemanth Kumar, Consultant in Surgical Gastroenterology, GI Oncology and HPB, Robotic Surgery at Manipal Hospital Old Airport Road, took the time to carefully explain the situation, the risks, and the possible way forward. While the stent had provided temporary symptom relief from the obstruction, it was not designed to be a long-term solution. Without definitive treatment, the obstruction could return, and the cancers could progress. Surgery, though high-risk, offered the only real chance at recovery. Faced with a difficult decision, Lakshmi and her family chose to move forward with hope and trust.
Robotic Surgery: A Single Procedure for Two Cancers
Using the advanced Da Vinci Xi robotic system, the team performed a highly complex procedure, addressing both the colon cancer and the esophageal tumor in a single surgery. For a patient of her age and medical background, this approach offered the advantage of precision, smaller incisions, and a potentially smoother recovery, said Dr. Hemanth. Lakshmi was able to recover steadily from her surgery without requiring an ICU stay. With a supportive team of multidisciplinary staff, she built her strength day by day. Just one week post-op, she was healthy enough to go home, a highly emotional and thrilling time for both her and her family.
Recovery and Ongoing Treatment
Today, three months later, she continues to do well and is undergoing further treatment as part of her recovery journey. This case highlights the potential of robotic surgery in managing complex cancers in elderly patients with multiple comorbidities, offering hope where conventional options may seem limited.
