STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: In an era where compassion, skill and dedication define true medical excellence, the doctors of Government Medical College (GMC), Jammu continue to earn admiration for their unwavering commitment to saving lives. Their relentless service, professional brilliance and humanitarian spirit have strengthened public trust and transformed countless families, particularly through exemplary teamwork in complex and high-risk cases.
A shining example of this commitment was recently demonstrated by Dr. Sandeep Bhat, Assistant Professor and renowned Laparoscopic Gastrointestinal Onco Surgeon, Surgical Unit-5, GMC Jammu.
Trained at Medanta Hospital, Gurgaon, Dr. Bhat accomplished a remarkable feat by successfully performing a major cancer surgery-gastrectomy-on an 85-year-old patient diagnosed with gastric carcinoma that had also spread to the gallbladder. A massive tumour weighing nearly three-quarters of a kilogram was removed en bloc along with the stomach, gallbladder and part of the liver to achieve a complete R0 resection, a procedure demanding exceptional precision, teamwork and advanced laparoscopic skills. The surgery was carried out under the overall supervision of Dr. Mohd. Riaz, Professor and Senior Laparoscopic Surgeon, HOU Surgical Unit-5.
The patient had been bedridden for years due to multiple comorbidities, including chronic kidney disease, diabetes requiring high insulin doses, hypertension, hypothyroidism, left bundle branch block and COPD. He had undergone repeated hospital admissions for upper gastrointestinal bleeding leading to severe anaemia. After thorough evaluation by a multidisciplinary team-cardiologist, nephrologist, pulmonologist, endocrinologist and anesthesiologist-and detailed discussion in the tumour board, Dr. Bhat decided to proceed with surgery despite significant risks, especially as other hospitals had earlier expressed reluctance.
Following the successful operation by the surgical team-Dr. Bhat, Dr. Vikrant, Dr. Nair, Abhilove and the anaesthesia team led by Dr. Atri and Dr. Shagufta-the patient received meticulous critical care in the Surgical ICU. When he suffered a massive heart attack five days later, timely interventions by Dr. Sanjeev Bhat, Senior Cardiologist; Dr. Raju Bhandari, Senior Nephrologist; and the ICU team led by Dr. Shruti proved lifesaving. Continuous monitoring, multiple infusions and coordinated management stabilized his condition.
Post-operative care by Dr. Kikali, Dr. Vanshaj and residents of Surgical Unit-5, along with anaesthesia residents, ensured steady recovery. The patient has since been discharged and is recuperating well at home. His family expressed deep gratitude and highlighted the exceptional services rendered at GMC Jammu, reaffirming the institution’s reputation for compassionate and high-quality healthcare.
