Paras Health Performs Kashmir’s First ICG-Guided Reverse Axillary Mapping in Breast Cancer Surgery | Kashmir Life

SRINAGAR: Paras Health Srinagar has marked a significant advancement in cancer care by successfully performing Kashmir’s first fluorescence-guided Reverse Axillary Mapping (RAM) using Indocyanine Green (ICG) dye during complete axillary nodal clearance in breast cancer surgery. The procedure represents a major step towards precision-driven oncology aimed at reducing long-term surgical complications and improving patient outcomes.

The landmark surgery was led by Dr Shabnam Bashir, Director, Surgical Oncology, Paras Health Srinagar. With this achievement, the hospital joins a small group of advanced cancer centres in India offering ICG-guided RAM, a technique designed to preserve arm lymphatic drainage while maintaining oncological safety.

Breast cancer surgeries often require the removal of axillary lymph nodes, a process that can disrupt lymphatic flow from the arm and lead to lymphedema, a chronic, painful, and potentially disabling condition. ICG-guided Reverse Axillary Mapping addresses this risk by enabling real-time visualisation of lymphatic pathways. Using fluorescence imaging, surgeons can clearly differentiate between lymph nodes draining the breast and those draining the arm, allowing selective preservation of arm-draining lymphatics without compromising cancer clearance.

“This is a paradigm shift in breast cancer surgery in Kashmir,” Dr Shabnam Bashir said. “Our objective goes beyond treating cancer. We are equally focused on reducing long-term morbidity and improving quality of life for survivors. By preserving critical arm lymphatics through ICG-guided mapping, we can significantly lower the risk of lymphedema while ensuring complete oncological safety.”

Emphasising the broader institutional impact, Dr Murtuza, Facility Director, Paras Health Srinagar, said the milestone reflects the hospital’s commitment to bringing advanced, technology-enabled healthcare to the region. “The introduction of fluorescence-guided surgery underscores our focus on patient-centric, world-class oncology care and positions Paras Health Srinagar among the most advanced cancer centres in the country,” he said.

The successful introduction of the technique was supported by a coordinated multidisciplinary team, including Dr Zahid, Anaesthetist; Ashiq, Anaesthesia Technician; Sameer and Rouf Wani, Scrub Nurses; Miss Saima Rashid, Circulatory Nurse; and oncology coordinators Sharik and Afaq, all of whom played a crucial role in ensuring patient safety and high standards of perioperative care.

With the adoption of ICG-guided Reverse Axillary Mapping, Paras Health Srinagar strengthens its growing capabilities in advanced surgical oncology. The procedure is expected to significantly reduce the incidence of arm lymphedema, one of the most feared long-term complications of breast cancer surgery, and sets a new benchmark for breast cancer care in Kashmir.