Doctors of the Kerala Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS) successfully performed minimally invasive surgery to remove a tumor from the adrenal gland of an 11-month-old child utilizing the posterior retroperitoneoscopic method.
The baby girl, who is a resident of Kollam, was diagnosed with a tumor on the right adrenal gland. It was identified through ultrasound by Senior Consultant, Department of Pediatrics, Dr. Sanuja Titus Santosh, when the baby presented with continued crying. A CT scan confirmed the tumor in the baby's adrenal gland, which is situated above the right kidney. It also showed that it was positioned near the large blood vessels and liver.
The adrenal gland secretes hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline, which help in survival during stressful conditions. Given the young age, there was a high chances that the adrenal tumor could be cancerous. The traditional surgical approach involves a large incision in the abdomen, moving the intestines aside to reach the tumor site. However, the location of the adrenal tumor made it particularly suitable for the posterior retroperitoneoscopic method, which reaches the tumor from the rear side through a keyhole.
This surgery was completed in two and a-half hours. Doctors removed the adrenal tumor through a small keyhole incision on the back while the child lay face down (prone) under anesthesia. Senior Consultant Pediatric Minimal Access Surgeon, Dr. Reju Joseph Thomas, said that this method enables surgery to be performed without entering the abdomen and without disturbing any other inside organs.
The use of Ligasure, which is a specialized instrument for tissue sealing and cutting simultaneously, helped not only in reducing the risk of blood loss but also with minimal pain and scarring. Notably, the baby was able to eat and drink at the same time, and on the very next day, the child was sitting up and playing.
Dr. Jacob John Theophilus, Senior Consultant, Department of Anesthesia, led the anesthesia team. Senior Consultant, Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Dr. Shaji Palangadan, and Consultant, Department of Surgical Oncology, Dr. Jayanand Sunil, were also part of the medical team.
(Input from various sources)
(Rehash/Komal Bhoi/MSM)
