Doctors at ShardaCare HealthCity successfully treated early-stage breast cancer, severe aortic valve stenosis and critical coronary artery disease in a 65-year-old woman during a rare six-hour surgery. By performing all three procedures in a single operation, the multidisciplinary team ensured timely cancer treatment while preventing a potentially fatal cardiac event. According to the hospital, this is the first case of its kind in Delhi NCR.
Silent Heart Conditions Detected During Evaluation
The patient, Mrs. Iyer, a retired media professional, was diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer after noticing a lump in her right breast. While preparing for surgery, doctors detected a cardiac murmur during routine pre-operative evaluation. Further tests revealed severe aortic valve stenosis caused by a bicuspid aortic valve and a 90% blockage in the left anterior descending (LAD) artery, even though she had no significant cardiac symptoms.
Single Surgery Replaces Multiple Procedures
As per the press release, specialists from Surgical Oncology, Cardiology, Cardiac Anaesthesia, and Cardiothoracic & Vascular Surgery jointly revised the treatment plan. After obtaining informed consent, they performed a Modified Radical Mastectomy, Aortic Valve Replacement, and single-vessel Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG) during one six-hour operation.
The patient recovered well, and follow-up tests confirmed normal valve function and good cardiac health. She was discharged in stable condition with oncology follow-up.
Doctors Emphasise Teamwork and Early Detection
Dr. Akhil Kumar Rustagi, Senior Director & Head, Department of Cardiothoracic & Vascular Surgery, ShardaCare HealthCity, said the combined surgery required meticulous planning and close coordination across specialties. He added that routine pre-operative evaluation helped detect two life-threatening heart conditions before they caused irreversible complications.
Dr. Hemkant Verma, Senior Consultant & Unit Head, Surgical Oncology, ShardaCare HealthCity, said the integrated approach allowed doctors to treat the patient’s cancer without delay while avoiding multiple major surgeries and recovery periods. He also stressed the importance of comprehensive pre-operative assessment and multidisciplinary care.