Groundbreaking Bronchoscopic Surgery Saves Woman's Life at KIMS

Innovative Medical Procedure at KIMS

In Bhubaneswar, the medical team at Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS) has achieved a remarkable feat by successfully excising a tumour that was obstructing the airway of a 40-year-old female patient through an advanced bronchoscopic technique.

The woman had previously been diagnosed with a rare carcinoid tumour located in her right main bronchus and had received radiation therapy in 2023.

A follow-up scan conducted in June 2025 indicated that a significant mass was still present, blocking more than half of her airway, which resulted in severe breathing difficulties and a persistent cough.

To tackle this issue, the Interventional Pulmonology team at KIMS chose a minimally invasive yet precise method.

During the procedure, performed under general anaesthesia in the Cardiothoracic operating theatre, a flexible bronchoscope was introduced, and a three-step tumour removal process was executed.

This process began with an adrenaline injection to reduce the risk of bleeding, followed by electrocautery to cut and shrink the tumour using controlled heat, and concluded with cryo-extraction to freeze and gently extract the tumour fragments.

This innovative combination led to the complete removal of the obstruction, providing immediate relief to the patient’s breathing.

Additionally, biopsy samples were collected during the operation for further analysis.

The complex procedure was spearheaded by Dr. Debasis Behera, Dr. Swadip Mishra, and Dr. Sushanta Mishra from the Interventional Pulmonology department, in close collaboration with the Cardiac Anaesthesia team, including Dr. Ashok K Badamali and Dr. Gyana Ranjan Mishra.