Newer and advanced techniques of surgery for colon and other GI cancers
The incidence of cancers is becoming exceedingly common. Among all cancers, gastrointestinal cancers (GI) comprise a significant percentage. GI Cancers are essentially cancers of the esophagus (food pipe), stomach, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, bile duct, small intestine , colon and rectum. In our state gastrointestinal (GI) cancers like those of the stomach and colon are becoming very common. On the other hand, cancers of the esophagus is very common in north Bengal (hill districts).
Though the treatment of cancer always has been and always will be multimodality, but for most GI cancer the treatment has been primarily surgery. Though chemotherapy and in a minority of cases radiotherapy is required but surgery remains the primary curative modality.
Because of the requirement radical treatment, surgery of cancers has essentially been by the conventional open method.
When laparoscopy came into vogue, and some surgeons started performing cancer operations by laparoscopy, there was lot of criticism and resistance as it was felt that laparoscopy would compromise on the radicality and hence on the adequacy of cancer treatment.
However, with evolution and fine tuning it has been felt that in proper situations and when performed by surgeons with the proper training, laparoscopic cancer surgery is not only adequate but at times produces better results.
However it has to be noted that not all cancers can be treated by laparoscopy. Patient selection is very important.
We have started performing advanced laparoscopic surgery for GI cancers. These include laparoscopic surgery for colon, liver, gallbladder, stomach and small intestine. Almost all colon cancers are now being operated by advanced laparoscopic technique. For other cancer we perform laparoscopic surgery on a selective basis.
For certain specific cancers of the anal canal or rectum we are also performing scarless (natural orifice surgery) where the tumor is removed through the anal canal without any incision.
We are one of the first in Eastern India to offer laparoscopic surgery for liver and gallbladder cancers.
Further details can be found with:
Dr. Sanjoy Mandal ,MBBS (AIIMS), MS (AIIMS), DNB, MRCS(Ed), MCh
Director & Senior Consultant GI Oncosurgery & Advanced Laparoscopy
Department of GI Surgery,Medica Superspecialty Hospital, Kolkata
Salt Lake Specialty Clinic, Kolkata
09836066320
