PMCH Conducts First-Ever Commando Surgery for Mouth Cancer

Patna: The cancer department of Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) has successfully performed its first-ever commando surgery for mouth cancer. A team of doctors removed the cancerous portions of the patient’s mouth, jaw, and throat and reconstructed the jaw using flesh and skin from the chest. The operation was conducted by cancer surgeon Dr. Amit Kumar and assistant professor of surgery Dr. Alok Ranjan, under the unit of Dr. IS Thakur.

The patient, 43-year-old Pradeep Kumar Trivedi from Jangsari village in Nalanda district, had developed mouth cancer due to prolonged consumption of gutkha and khaini. He was diagnosed in November 2024. According to Dr. Alok, this was the first time commando surgery had been performed at PMCH. The surgery lasted three and a half hours and involved a medical team including Dr. Kunal Kumar, Dr. Kunal Anand, Dr. Abhishek Ankur, and anesthetist Dr. Ravi Ranjan.

Commando surgery is a specialized procedure used for treating mouth cancer. It consists of three steps: removing the cancerous area along with the affected bone, clearing all lumps from the neck, and reconstructing the affected portion using tissue from the chest. This method ensures complete removal of cancerous cells, offering the patient a cancer-free life.

With this successful surgery, PMCH has achieved a major milestone in cancer treatment. The doctors emphasized the dangers of consuming gutkha and other tobacco products, which remain a leading cause of mouth cancer.