In the capital of Ukraine, doctors conducted a remarkable laparoscopic surgery to remove a colon tumor from a woman in late pregnancy. The lives of both the mother and her baby are not at risk.
This was reported by the National Cancer Institute.
According to medical professionals, a 35-year-old mother of five from Rivne region approached them while she was 19 weeks pregnant.
"During a routine ultrasound, a malignant formation – stage III adenocarcinoma of the transverse colon – was discovered, which was accompanied by grade II anemia and partial intestinal obstruction," the Institute noted.
The treatment strategy was established at a multidisciplinary council of the National Cancer Institute. The task was exceptionally challenging – to save the woman's life and preserve the pregnancy.
"Experience in performing radical surgeries for colorectal cancer at such a late stage of pregnancy in Ukraine is limited, and laparoscopic access is virtually nonexistent.
We had to consider many factors: the biological characteristics of the tumor, physiological changes associated with pregnancy, and the presence of an enlarged uterus with a viable fetus in the abdominal cavity, which significantly restricted the ability to perform specific manipulations with laparoscopic instruments," said Vitaliy Zvirich, head of the oncology and proctology department at the National Cancer Institute.
The oncological surgeon explained that the laparoscopic intervention method was chosen to minimize trauma and avoid harming the child. This approach significantly reduced postoperative pain and nearly eliminated the need for analgesics after the procedure.
"This was a true challenge – both medically and personally. We realized we were responsible not only for one life but for two," Vitaliy Zvirich shared.
The cancer institute reports that the woman is recovering quickly after the surgery: she feels well, is active, and smiling. The condition of the fetus, according to specialists, is not a cause for concern. On the third day after the operation, her husband took Maria home.
After receiving the final histological report, the multidisciplinary team of the institute will determine the further chemotherapy strategy for the patient.
