New Delhi: Doctors at AIIMS have started performing limb salvage surgery using vascular reconstruction, which will avoid amputation of limbs of patients suffering from sarcoma, a deadly form of cancer.
Medically surgery is the only curative treatment for sarcoma, malignant tumours of connective tissues.
Tumours more than 10 cms in size usually tend to involve major vessels supplying blood to the limbs, compelling the surgeon to surgically remove the affected limb. Sarcoma mostly affects the limbs and neck region.
“Removal of any body parts, particularly limbs, makes one crippled. It has got a huge bearing on the quality of life, particularly in India where rehabilitative processes are not that well developed.
“Also, there is lack of technology related to artificial prosthetic limbs and high cost involved,” said director AIIMS, Prof. M.C. Mishra.
“And that is why the best way to help these patients is to avoid amputations. By limb salvage surgery, it is possible to treat malignant tumours safely without resorting to amputation,” added Prof. Mishra.
According to Dr Sunil Kumar, assistant professor of Surgical Oncology, as part of the treatment the affected blood vessels are reconstructed and replaced with veins and prosthetic vascular grafts taken from the patient’s own body.
“The procedure helps preserve the patient’s appearance and maintain his self-esteem. We also implant synthetic metal rods where bones are involved by the tumour. Using these grafts the blood flow to the limb is preserved so that the functional limb can be maintained and the person returns to his normal life with minimal rehabilitative assistance,” said Dr Kumar.
