
03/07/2025
đĸ Anaesthesia Under Extreme Risk â Every Second Was a Gamble with the Heart
đ Ash Shafi Hospital, Mirpur-10
đī¸ 30/06/2025
âī¸ From the Anaesthesia Desk
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đĩ Patient: Mrs. Sasunnahr, 65 years
đ From Chattogram
đ Diagnosis: Advanced Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the oral cavity
Involving bilateral buccal, alveolar, lingual mucosa, and anterior tongue
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đ Scheduled Surgery:
âĸ Wide Local Excision
âĸ Total Mandibulectomy
âĸ Bilateral Supraomohyoid Neck Dissection (SOND)
âĸ Reconstruction with ALT Free Flap
đ Expected Duration: ~12hours
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â ī¸ High-Risk Comorbidities â A Case Many Would Walk Away From
đĢ Cardiac Profile:
âĸ LVEF: 34% (Moderate LV systolic dysfunction)
âĸ LV Apical Aneurysm with Organized Thrombus
âĸ Regional Wall Motion Abnormalities (RWMA)
âĸ Single Vessel Disease (LAD) â Advised PTCA & Stenting
âĸ Diastolic Dysfunction (Grade I)
âĸ Mild MR, Mild AR, Trace TR
đ Other Medical Conditions:
âĸ Hypertension â Longstanding, on medication
âĸ Thyromegaly â Euthyroid but airway distortion possible
This combination meant:
đ´ High cardiac risk
đ´ Difficult airway potential
đ´ Increased risk of intraoperative haemodynamic instability
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đĢ Initial Anaesthesia Decision:
I had to decline multiple times.
The patient was not medically fit for such extensive surgery. Risk of cardiac arrest, airway compromise, or uncontrolled BP surges was substantial.
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đŖī¸ But the Family Made Their Stand:
Despite full disclosure and worst-case scenario counselling, the patientâs sons firmly stated:
âWe take all responsibility. We trust you. Please try.â
It was not an easy moment.
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đ§ Anaesthetic Strategy:
âĸ Cardiovascular-friendly induction
âĸ Meticulous BP & ECG monitoring
âĸ High vigilance for myocardial ischemia
âĸ Airway plan adjusted for thyromegaly-related distortion
âĸ Smooth maintenance over 9 hours
âĸ Judicious fluid & opioid balance
âĸ Controlled emergence
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đī¸ Outcome:
đš Intraoperative vitals â stable
đš Airway â managed safely
đš Reversal â uneventful
⨠Alhamdulillah â the best we could hope for in such a risky case.
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đ Anaesthesiologist:
Dr. Md. Naheed Rayhan
This case demanded not just skill â but boldness, calm nerves, and total coordination with the surgical team.
The line between life and collapse was paper-thin. Every drug, every second, every breath mattered.
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đĒ Surgical Heroes:
âĸ Dr. Md. Abdul Hannan â Chief Surgeon
âĸ Dr. Md. Mostafizur Rahman Mamun â Reconstruction Lead
âĸ Assistants: Dr. Shibbir, Dr. Sarwar, Dr. Amitesh
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đī¸ Patient is now recovering in the Postoperative Ward under tight monitoring.
đ This wasnât just a case â it was a test of medicine, ethics, teamwork, and faith.
đ Ash Shafi Hospital, Mirpur-10