A 53-year-old woman was successfully treated at Wockhardt Hospitals, Nagpur, after arriving in a critical condition due to a large tumor in her chest that was compressing her windpipe (trachea), completely closing off one lung and almost entirely blocking the other.
The patient, a resident of Chandrapur, had been suffering from severe breathlessness, chest pain, and persistent coughing for over 10 days. Her condition worsened on 2nd June 2025, after which she was initially admitted to a hospital in Warora, where doctors noted left vocal cord paralysis. As her breathing deteriorated rapidly, she was intubated and urgently referred to Wockhardt Hospitals, Nagpur.
Upon evaluation, a CT scan and diagnostic bronchoscopy revealed a large mediastinal mass that was compressing the central airway, causing almost complete obstruction of the trachea, complete blockage of the right main bronchus (leading to collapse and air trapping in the right lung), and *near-total obstruction of the left main bronchus.*
Given the critical nature of the airway obstruction, a complex and high-risk procedure was planned and executed by a multidisciplinary team led by: ECMO specialist Team Dr. Chetan Sharma, Dr. Rahul Hiwanj, Dr. Sumit Narang, Dr. Sameer Arbat(Interventional Pulmonologist), Dr. Barokar, Dr. Avantika Jaiswal(Anesthetist), Dr. Vijaya Lanje, Dr. Belekar
On 5th June 2025, the patient underwent a rigid bronchoscopy with cryobiopsy and electrocautery for tumor debulking. A Y-shaped airway stent was placed to maintain airway patency. The entire procedure was carried out under *VV-ECMO (veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation)* and mechanical ventilation, due to the high risk of bleeding and potential airway collapse.
The operation was successful with well-managed bleeding, and the patient was closely monitored in the ICU, receiving blood transfusions and critical medications. A follow-up bronchoscopy on 7th June confirmed that both airways were open and that the patient had responded well to the treatment.
Dr. Sameer Arbat emphasized that this was a rare and life-threatening case where advanced bronchoscopic interventions combined with ECMO support played a vital role in saving the patient’s life. He acknowledged the extraordinary coordination and expertise of the entire medical team, whose efforts led to this successful outcome.
The patient is now *clinically stable* and undergoing ongoing *medical management for cancer*.
This case underscores the importance of *early diagnosis, **cutting-edge pulmonology interventions*, and precise critical care, especially in emergency, life-threatening airway conditions.
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