By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Sep 6: Doctors at North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (NEIGRIHMS) have successfully performed an Endoscopic Thyroidectomy (Remote Access Thyroidectomy) on a young woman suffering from thyroid cancer.
The procedure was carried out without any incision on the neck, using laparoscopic instruments inserted through the armpit and chest to remove the thyroid gland via a small incision.
The primary benefit of such a surgery is to avoid a visible neck scar, providing excellent cosmetic results. It offers a magnified, precise view of surgical structures, increasing safety and precision compared to open surgery.
According to Additional Professor of Surgical Oncology Dr. Caleb Harris, who performed the surgery, half of the thyroid gland was removed from the patient who had a cancerous tumour. Dr. Harris informed that the patient made a quick recovery and was discharged the following day.
On the other hand, NEIGRIHMS Medical Superintendent, Dr. Suvamoy Chakraborty, said that with improved outcomes for thyroid cancer, the focus is now on quality of life. “Such a surgery, without a scar on the neck, enables more young people to come forward for treatment,” he noted.
Meanwhile, NEIGRIHMS Director Dr. Nalin Mehta congratulated the team on performing this technically challenging procedure and said that the institute is in the process of acquiring a surgical robot, which will enable many more such complex procedures to be performed safely.
Similarly, Head of the Department of Anaesthesiology, Dr. Nari Lyngdoh, said that such procedures require special attention to anaesthesia techniques and that the department is fully prepared to provide the care and support necessary for advanced surgical interventions.