JLNM Hospital Performs Rare Anaesthesia-Assisted Surgery on High-Risk Patient

SRINAGAR: Doctors at Jawahar Lal Nehru Memorial (JLNM) Hospital in Srinagar successfully performed a laparoscopic cholecystectomy on a high-risk patient using Thoracic Segmental Spinal Anaesthesia (TSSA), a technique seldom applied in complex abdominal surgeries.

The 50-year-old patient, a chronic smoker suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and hypertension, was operated on for acute cholecystitis with empyema of the gallbladder. Despite his high-risk profile, the surgery was completed safely within two hours without any complications, hospital officials said.

The surgical team included Dr Akhter Ganai, Dr Nisar and Dr Shakeeb Lone, while the anaesthesia team comprised Dr Arifa, Dr Sadia Wani, Dr Alfer Antony, Mushtaq and Muntaha. The operation was conducted under the supervision of Medical Superintendent Dr Tariq and Deputy Medical Superintendent Dr Asifa.

According to hospital authorities, the success of the procedure demonstrates the growing potential of regional anaesthesia techniques like TSSA in enhancing patient safety and reducing perioperative risks, especially for patients with respiratory or cardiac ailments.

Officials added that the achievement marks a significant step in JLNM Hospital’s ongoing efforts to advance safe, evidence-based anaesthetic practices within Kashmir’s public healthcare system.