Media Release

Mangaluru, Nov 29: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common type of primary liver cancer. Surgical resection of this tumor requires advanced surgical expertise.

Major laparoscopic right hepatectomy was performed for the first time in coastal Karnataka at Father Muller Hospital.

Dr Ganesh M K, consultant surgical gastroenterologist, who performed the surgery said, "Most of the liver resections are usually done as open procedures with a large incision. Recent advances in laparoscopy have made major liver surgeries possible, which avoid a larger incision and significantly improve the comfort of the patient. Only few advanced laparoscopic centres in our country are performing these procedures on a regular basis.

"Right half of the liver with tumor size 11 X 7 X 5 cm was resected laparoscopically which took approximately six hours. The patient recovered well in the postoperative period and was fit for discharge within a week." 

Major laparoscopic gastrointestinal surgeries require a good team effort, which include skilled surgical, anaesthetic and nursing team. The surgical team consisted of Dr Ganesh, Dr Erel Diaz, Dr Ajay, Dr Monalisa while Dr Radhesh Hegde, Dr Gurumurthy, Dr Shailaja, Dr Manjula were part of the anesthesia team.

Dr Ganesh is the first surgical gastroenterologist in coastal Karnataka to have performed this surgery laparoscopically. He obtained his advanced training in Minimally invasive gastrointestinal surgery from GEM Hospital, Coimbatore under renowned laparoscopic surgeon Dr C Palanivelu.

Fr Richard Coelho, director of Father Muller Medical College Hospital, here said, "They have an advanced, highly equipped state of the art operation theatre and treatment at affordable price for the common man."