Devishala Gacche, a 30-year-old mother of two from Nanded, experienced unusual symptoms at 21 weeks into her third pregnancy, including persistent headaches, neck pain, and recurrent vomiting. Local doctors, concerned about her condition, referred her to KEM Hospital in Parel for further evaluation.
Imaging studies revealed a large brain tumor, comparable to the size of a full-grown orange. The tumor, diagnosed as a hemangioblastoma, is a rare and benign growth originating from blood vessel cells in the brain. The challenge was compounded by Gacche being five months pregnant, as the tumor’s growth was accelerated by the increased blood flow typical during pregnancy.
Faced with a dire situation, KEM doctors decided to perform a highly risky surgery to save both mother and baby. Remarkably, Gacche survived the procedure and later delivered a healthy baby girl. The medical team is now documenting this rare surgery for a medical publication.
Dr. Amit Mahore, the neurosurgeon who led the three-hour operation, noted the tumor’s challenging location near the cerebellum, the brain’s balance center. The standard surgical position, which requires the patient to be face-down, was not an option due to Gacche’s pregnancy. Instead, doctors opted for a lateral approach, with Dr. Mahore operating in an awkward, bent-knee stance to avoid putting pressure on the uterus.
Pregnancy increases blood flow and the formation of new blood vessels, which, in this case, fueled the tumor’s growth, explained gynecologist Dr. Gaurav Desai. The team had to rely on plain CT scans, avoiding contrasts deemed unsafe during pregnancy. Administering anesthesia posed another significant challenge, but anesthetists managed it efficiently, providing general anesthesia and medications to prevent preterm labor, ensuring the unborn child’s safety.
As reported by ET Healthworld, the doctors successfully removed the 4 cm tumor after 3-4 hours. Dean Dr. Sangeeta Ravat praised the collaborative efforts of gynecology, neurosurgery, and anesthesia departments, noting that such a high-risk procedure would likely have been declined by most private institutions.