KATHMANDU: Neurosurgeons at Norvic International Hospital have successfully removed a rare tumor arising from blood vessels surrounding a brain artery in a 71-year-old woman, ending a medical condition she had lived with for more than two decades.

The complex seven-hour surgery, performed on July 9, was led by Dr. Pawan Bahadur Bhandari, with support from Dr. Purushottam Baniya and Dr. Sameer Aryal. The anesthesia team was led by Dr. Suresh Lamichhane.

According to Dr. Bhandari, the patient had a large tumor on the left side of her neck originating from the left vertebral artery, a rare and highly vascular tumor located near the arteries supplying blood to the brain. Due to its location and proximity to critical blood vessels and nerves, the surgery was considered highly complex.

The woman had been living with the neck mass for 21 years, during which it gradually enlarged and caused breathing difficulties, dizziness, episodes of unconsciousness, numbness, and severe headaches. Two previous attempts to surgically remove the tumor at other hospitals were cancelled because of the high surgical risk.

Dr. Bhandari said the surgical team planned to reposition the vertebral artery to minimize bleeding during the procedure and had also prepared for a possible arterial bypass if blood flow to the brain was compromised. However, the bypass was ultimately not required.

Following the operation, the patient was monitored in the intensive care unit by a critical care team led by Dr. Pradeep Tiwari. She recovered without major complications and was discharged two days later.

During a follow-up visit on July 20, the patient expressed gratitude to the medical team, saying she was relieved to finally be free of the tumor after years of living with the condition.
Norvic Hospital said the successful outcome was made possible by the expertise of its multidisciplinary team and the hospital’s advanced neurosurgical facilities and critical care services.