Oman’s Hospital performs first-of-its-kind successful lung surgery

Muscat: A specialized surgical team at the Royal Hospital succeeded in eliminating a patient’s cancerous right lung and part of the trachea. The surgery, the first one of its kind in the Sultanate of Oman, was among rare operations in the world.

Dr. Aziza Nasser Al Rawahi, Consultant of Upper Gastrointestinal and Thoracic Surgeon at the Royal Hospital, told Oman News Agency (ONA) that the removal of the lung was a major surgical task. She added that the trachea reconstruction surgery was also a delicate, complex and uncommon surgery. The operation took 8 to 9 hours, she said.

The surgery was conducted on a patient who was suffering from a cancerous tumor centred in the trachea and the bronchi of the right lung, she added.

Dr. Aziza explained that the tumor was diagnosed through CT scans and bronchoscopy. The subsequent tests were performed to stem the spread of cancer, she said, noting that lung function tests were conducted to ensure that the patient would be able to survive with one lung.

Dr. Aziza pointed out that, once the case was presented to the Chest Tumor Board at the Royal Hospital, a decision was taken to perform the resection as a radical treatment for the elimination of the tumor.

She affirmed that, after the operation and follow-up treatment, the patient enjoyed good health and later left the hospital, without suffering any complications.

The Royal Hospital is keen on providing the best specialized healthcare informed by the latest medical and therapeutic technology in the world. Its operations are conducted under the supervision of a group of highly skilled and well qualified physicians and surgeons. -ONA