Colon Cancer Surgery
In Antalya Training and Research Hospital, 8 organs were removed from a cancer patient named Cevdet Taşar in a 6-hour surgery performed by talking to the patient. Taşar was diagnosed with colon cancer two years ago but postponed treatment due to fear of surgery. Eventually, his disease progressed and spread to organs such as the liver, pancreas and duodenum.
The team performing the surgery used spinal high epidural anesthesia instead of general anesthesia to reduce the patient’s risk of anesthesia-related complications. This method allowed the patient to remain awake throughout the surgery and enabled doctors to communicate with him continuously. During the operation, the team led by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tuğrul Çakır removed the pancreas, duodenum, biliary tract, right lobe of the liver, spleen, appendix, part of the large intestine and stomach.
In the pre-operative period, anesthesiologists and the radiology team created a detailed plan, identifying the organs and vessels where the tumor had spread. Thanks to this, all organs were successfully removed during the operation. In the postoperative period, Taşar was transferred directly to the ward without being admitted to intensive care. Anesthesiologist Dr. Lütfi Özyürek stated that with this method, the patient’s postoperative comfort increased and the healing process accelerated.
Cevdet Taşar stated that he did not feel any pain during the operation and that the doctors talked to him throughout the operation. Taşar, who regained his health after the successful operation, thanked his doctors and healthcare team. Taşar, who was the first patient to be operated in this way in Turkey, stated that the recovery process after the operation went smoothly and that he is fine now.
This operation is the first of its kind in Turkey and is considered a comfortable method especially for patients with advanced heart and lung diseases. Performing such major surgeries with spinal anesthesia stands out as an important innovation for both doctors and patients. The rapid discharge of the patient in the postoperative period once again demonstrated the advantages of this method. Taşar expressed his comfort and satisfaction with the operation immediately after the surgery.
This whole process was made possible by the patient’s overcoming her fear of surgery and her trust in her doctors. Dr. Çakır and his team emphasized that the success of the surgery was a result of teamwork and the applicability of this method in similar cases. This surgery is considered a promising model for similar cases in the future.
