72-Year-Old Bangladeshi Woman Undergoes Rare Combined Heart and Breast Cancer Surgery at Fortis Escorts, Okhla

New Delhi: Doctors at Fortis Escorts Hospital, Okhla, have successfully treated a 72-year-old Bangladeshi patient with two serious co-existing conditions by performing a coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and a modified radical mastectomy in a single surgical session. The patient, who was suffering from both advanced heart disease and Stage 3 breast cancer, underwent the 11-hour dual procedure carried out by a multidisciplinary team of cardiothoracic and oncology specialists. She was discharged in stable condition after 12 days of postoperative care.

The team of doctors comprising Dr. Ritwick Raj Bhuyan, Director, Adult Cardiothoracic & Vascular Surgery; Dr. Archit Pandit, Director, Surgical Oncology; and Dr. Vineet Goel, Consultant, Surgical Oncology, performed robot-assisted coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) followed by the removal of the cancerous breast and nearby glands.

Upon admission at Fortis Escorts, Okhla, the patient was having difficulty breathing, was severely fatigued, and was bleeding from a large, open, and infected wound on her right breast. Initial medical evaluations revealed heart failure due to severe blockages in three major blood vessels of the heart, along with advanced, infected, and bleeding Stage 3 breast cancer. The patient’s heart was too weak to withstand the cancer surgery, and her cancer was too advanced to delay any further treatment. Thus, the medical team decided to proceed with an immediate dual-surgical approach. First, a coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) to restore blood supply to the heart, followed immediately by a surgery to remove the cancerous breast and nearby infection-fighting glands (modified radical mastectomy), was performed. This rare and challenging surgical approach was undertaken to address both life-threatening conditions in a single session.

Giving details of the case, Dr. Ritwick Raj Bhuyan said, "This was more than just a surgical success; it was an example of what timely multidisciplinary teamwork and compassionate care can achieve. Performing a high-risk cardiac bypass on a patient in such a weak condition is challenging in itself. But what made this case truly difficult was the need to follow it up with cancer surgery in the same session. We opted for a robot-aided surgery, which involves performing heart bypass surgery through small incisions on the side of the chest, rather than a larger incision through the breastbone, as in traditional open-heart surgery.”

Dr. Archit Pandit said, "The patient’s breast cancer had reached a critical stage; the tumor had ulcerated the skin and was bleeding continuously, which posed an immediate risk to life. However, her heart condition made a standalone cancer surgery impossible. That’s when we decided to take the rare route of dual surgery. Soon after the bypass, without changing the surgical field, we proceeded with a modified radical mastectomy. The surgery was successful, and the patient was discharged in stable condition. Any delay in treatment would have been life-threatening.”

Dr. Vikram Aggarwal, Facility Director, said, “This rare case marks India’s first reported successful surgical intervention, underscoring the hospital's leadership in multidisciplinary care. Our dedicated team of doctors, led by Dr. Ritwick Raj Bhuyan and Dr. Archit Pandit, demonstrated outstanding expertise and teamwork. This successful outcome not only reinforces our position as a center of excellence but also brings hope to patients across borders who are looking for advanced, life-saving medical solutions.”