Chennai, October 9, 2024: MGM Healthcare, a leading multi-specialty quaternary care hospital in Chennai, has successfully performed a complex laryngo-tracheal reconstruction surgery, on a 60-year-old patient from Pondicherry, who had been reliant on a tracheostomy for nearly 9 months. Restoring both his voice and the ability to breathe independently. This procedure, which involved using cartilage from the patient’s upper rib, resolved months of respiratory distress and speech loss caused by complications from the tracheostomy.
The patient, Mr. Vinayagam (name changed), a retired sub-inspector of police from Pondicherry, faced life-threatening complications after a severe accident in March 2023 in Pondicherry. He was treated at a private hospital in Chennai for multiple injuries, including a crushed hand (which was amputated) and lung complications, he underwent several surgeries, and spent extensive time in the ICU. A tracheostomy was performed to manage his respiratory needs, and he was discharged in May 2023 to recover at home. However, in July 2023, tissue growth around the tracheostomy site began obstructing his airway, causing breathing difficulties and a complete loss of speech. He was taken to a local hospital in Pondicherry, but after being denied further treatment, he was rushed to MGM Healthcare in Chennai on nasal oxygen the same day. Dr. Sanjeev Mohanty, Senior Consultant, ENT, Head & Neck Surgery, and his team immediately took charge of his care. Recognizing the complexity, they quickly performed another tracheostomy to restore the patient’s breathing, and subsequently discharged him.
After three months of observation and healing, in November 2023, nearly forgetting the sound of his own voice (for 9 months), Mr. Vinayagam was re-admitted to MGM Healthcare. Dr. Mohanty and his team planned for the removal of tracheostomy and performed a laryngo-tracheal reconstruction surgery to permanently relieve Mr. Vinayagam from the tracheostomy and help him regain his voice. Dr. Mohanty and his team performed the highly specialized laryngo-tracheal reconstruction, inserting cartilage from the patient’s upper rib into the narrowed windpipe to widen the airway and restore normal function. A stent was placed to support the grafting, Mr. Vinayagam got his voice back after this surgery. Patient was under observation of the doctors till July 2024, and underwent a minor procedure for the removal of the stent.
“Laryngo-tracheal reconstruction is one of the most complex airway surgeries,” explained Dr. Sanjeev Mohanty. “For this patient, we used cartilage from his upper rib to widen the trachea, allowing him to breathe and speak normally again. This was a life-altering surgery, as his airway had become almost completely blocked. We are pleased to have restored his quality of life.”
The surgery was a success, and Mr. Vinayagam has since regained his ability to breathe freely and, most importantly regained his voice. His family expressed deep gratitude to Dr. Mohanty and the MGM Healthcare team for their timely intervention and state-of-the-art care, which brought them
