Profile
- I have done my surgical training at leading medical and post-graduate training schools in the country. Tata Memorial Hospital is a tertiary referral centre in Mumbai and drains patients not only from all over the country but also a large part of the Indian sub-continent. The King Edward VII Memorial Hospital & Seth G.S. Medical College, Parel, Mumbai, is an 1800 bedded tertiary referral centre and teaching hospital in the heart of Mumbai and covers a population of 12 million.
- I had opportunity to set up the Minimal Access Oncosurgery Department at Bhagwan Mahaveer Cancer Hospital & Research Center, a 180 bedded tertiary referral center for Rajasthan. This is a first of its kind in all of Rajasthan. I developed the field of Minimal Access Surgery here including management of most abdominal and thoracic malignancies using Laproscopy / Thoracoscopy with an aim to early rehabilitation and better Quality of Life.
- The development of Minimal Access Surgery (MAS) in Oncology has been the most notable contribution in my career so far. MAS is the way ahead and Robotic surgery is but another tool aimed at increasing the efficiency of the meticulous surgeon. It use is limited in India for lack of awareness and availability amongst the masses. The opportunity to set up the MAS department in a tertiary referral Centre has been an enriching experience. The training at various institutes of repute world over including Tata Memorial Hospital has finally translated into action. This included starting from scratch – from ordering equipment to upgrading the OT, training staff, re-hauling the CSSD, to creating an awareness and acceptance among medical professionals & patients alike.
Clinical Experience At The Above Institutes Includes
- Oncosurgery- rotating through all departments with appropriate experience in each and associated Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy inclusive of adjuvant and neo-adjuvant protocols and supportive therapy for advanced cases. Rotations included Head & Neck Oncology, Breast, Gastro-Intestinal oncology, Thoracic Oncology, Genito-urinary & Gynaec Oncology, Bone and Soft tissue services, Plastic and Reconstructive Services. Special mention has been made of surgical procedures mastered in Minimal Access Surgery and Thoracic oncology during my fellowships both abroad and at the Tata Memorial Hospital.
- Palliative Care& Pain relief in terminal / advanced malignancy.
- Elective General Surgery - inclusive of all major & minor procedures.
- Emergency Surgery, Trauma Care, Intensive & Critical Care
Thoracic Oncology
- Tracheal & Carinal Resections: for benign and malignant strictures
- Oesophagus: Total transthoracic oesophagectomy with two/ three field lymph node dissection Trans-hiatal oesophagectomy, Partial Oesophago-gastrectomy for lower third carcinoma oesophagus and proximal gastric cancers
- Transthoracic Enucleation of oesophageal Leiomyomas.
- Management of benign oesophageal strictures/ corrosive strictures & colonic bypass.
- Lung: Resection of lung tumors involving most procedures, extending from Pneumonectomy to sub segmental resections and metastatectomies. Sleeve resections of the bronchus and /or carina.
- Chest wall resection and reconstruction.
- Extra pleural pan-pleuro-pneumonectomy for Mesotheliomas.
- Decortication / Thoracostomy for Tuberculosis.
- Mediastinum: Most mediastinal tumor resections (as well as mediastinal fibromatosis) including anterior, posterior and superior mediastinum. Mediastinal lymph node biopsies. Sternal resection and reconstruction.
Vascular Access Device Placement
- Central Venous Access: Hickman’s catheter and Port insertion for prolonged wide bore central venous access prior to Chemotherapy and /or Bone marrow transplant, both in adult and pediatric cases.
Minimally Invasive Surgery
- VATS – Video assisted thoracoscopic surgery – including,
- Oesophagus: VATS – Oesophagectomy, with two / three field lymph node dissection
- Lung: VATS – Metastatectomy, Mediastinal tumors, Lobectomy, Mediastinal lymph node dissections both with and without mini-thoracotomy
- VATS Thymectomy.
- Thoracoscopic Adhesiolysis and Pleurodhesis.
- Thoracoscopic pericardiocentesis and creation of a pericardial window for malignant pericardial effusion.
- HALS – Hand assisted laproscopic surgery for stomach mobilization and celiac axis lymph node dissection with formation of the stomach tube.
- Complete laproscopic stomach mobilization and lymph node dissection.
- Mediastinoscopy – for staging of lung cancer
- Endoscopic placement of Self-expanding metallic stents (SEMS) and plastic stents (Montgomery T – tubes) for tracheal/ bronchial stenosis and fistulas.
- Laproscopic Radical Hysterectomy for endometrial carcinoma
- Laproscopic Anterior / Radical Total / Partial Nephrectomy
- Laproscopic Posterior Exenteration
- Laparoscopic Abdomino perineal resection
- Laparoscopic Anterior resection
- Laparoscopic Hemicolectomy
- Laparoscopic Gastrectomy
- Laparoscopic feeding jejunostomy / gastrostomy
- Staging laparoscopy
- “Endobronchial Diaode Laser resection of low grade carcinoid tumors that involve trachea or bronchus avoiding very major tracheobronchial surgery.“
