Kochi: In a landmark achievement for the fledgling Cochin Cancer Research Centre (CCRC), the surgeons at the OP wing of the centre conducted the first cancer surgery at the operation theatre of the adjoining Ernakulam Government Medical College (EMC) on Wednesday.
The operation was facilitated after the EMC authorities set apart one of its operation theatres for the CCRC and the necessary equipment were also were given by the EMC authorities while the surgical cautery was supplied by Kerala Medical Service Corporation Limited to CCRC.
According to sources at EMC, the surgery was conducted on a 45-year-old female patient who was suffering from the cancer of the tongue. The surgery was done in the neck and mouth. The CCRC director Dr Moni Kuriakose, who himself a head and neck surgeon, led the team of surgeons comprising Dr PG Balagopal, medical superintendent, Dr Neetha Sreedharan and Dr Sisha Abraham. The feat is considered the first feather in the cap of the director himself who assumed charge last month. The surgery lasted three hours from 3 pm.
Though the MoU in this regard was signed a few months ago between EMC and CCRC, the surgery has happened only now. “We will co-operate with CCRC in future also,” said a senior official of the medical college.
Wednesday’s first surgery has come as the right step in the direction of better co-operation between EMC and CCRC which are on the same campus. The Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan is set to lay the foundation stone on May 20 officially to start works on the CCRC on the EMC campus after all official clearances and sanctioning of funds. The CCRC once becomes fully operational will be able to handle 25,000 patients a year.
