PANJIM: The Oncology team from Manipal Hospital led by surgeon Dr Shekhar Salkar conducted five super-major surgeries onboard Lifeline Express, India’s hospital-on-train, which is first-of-its-kind in the world, last month.
All the five patients from Kumta in Karnataka, suffering from cancer, were successfully operated on November 11 and 12 by the five-member team of Dr Salkar, Dr Stanley, Sister Wilma and Uma and Anaesthesia assistant Surendra Naik.
Lifeline Express is a joint initiative of Tata Memorial Hospital, Ministry of Railways and NGO Impact India, was launched in 1991. Last year in December, the cancer care facility was included in the train, which runs the length and breadth of the country to extend medical service in remote parts.
The surgeries that were conducted include right alveolus commando, total parotidectomy with radical neck dissection, right hemimandibulectomy with supraomohyoid neck dissection, radical neck dissection and excision of lower lip with Estlander flap.
Addressing media persons, Dr Salkar said that it was a unique experience for him and his team to perform such major surgeries onboard a train. “We are very happy that all the five patients are recovering fast,” he said.
The Indian Medical Association (IMA) Goa branch was the supporting partners during the period.
Dr Salkar said Dr Pankaj Chaturvedi, head and neck surgeon at Tata Hospital in Mumbai had approached him with a request to conduct these surgeries.
