Bangladesh's First Successful Treatment of Complex Brainstem Glioma Under Mechanical Ventilator Support

Evercare Hospital Chattogram has set a new milestone in cancer treatment in Bangladesh. The hospital has successfully completed treatment of an 18-year-old patient suffering from a complex Malignant Brainstem Glioma. Successfully completing 30 radiotherapy sessions while the patient was on active ventilator support (mechanical breathing assistance) is a first for Bangladesh. To mark the occasion, hospital authorities held a press meet today (July 22), where the patient's treatment history, current condition, complexity of the disease, and the treatment process were discussed in detail.

Although the patient had been suffering from this complex disease for a long time, his neurological condition deteriorated rapidly in recent times. The left side of his body became weak, he developed difficulty speaking (dysphasia), and he faced repeated breathing difficulties and risk of aspiration (food entering the airway) while swallowing. In hope of advanced treatment, his family members took him to Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore.

While under treatment there, his physical condition suddenly deteriorated severely. He suffered acute cardiorespiratory failure and was urgently placed on mechanical ventilation. Since it was not possible to continue treatment there afterward, his family brought him back to the country while he was still on life support.

Upon returning to Chattogram in a critical condition, the patient was immediately admitted to the Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU) of Evercare Hospital Chattogram. At this point, Dr. Bhaskar Chakraborty, Visiting Consultant of the hospital's Medical & Radiation Oncology Department, took charge of the patient's extremely complex and high-risk treatment. With the full consent of the family, he made the bold decision to begin radiotherapy while the patient was still on life support in the medical ICU. Successfully delivering 30 radiotherapy sessions to a critically ill ICU patient on active ventilator support is, from a medical standpoint, an extremely complex and technically challenging procedure, and is being regarded as a new milestone in cancer treatment in Bangladesh.

Through close monitoring and coordinated treatment by the ICU and cancer specialist teams, the patient gradually recovered. As part of the treatment, he was successfully weaned off ventilator support, and the tracheostomy tube in his airway was subsequently removed. Once his ability to swallow returned, the nasogastric (NG) tube was removed, and he began taking food normally by mouth. Alongside this, through gaze physiotherapy and specialized rehabilitation programs, the patient regained the ability to walk normally with the support of a walker. Following treatment, a contrast MRI fusion scan showed significant improvement in the tumor.

Regarding this, Dr. Bhaskar Chakraborty, Visiting Consultant, Medical & Radiation Oncology, said, "Delivering radiotherapy in a complete ICU environment while the patient was on life support or a ventilator was, from a medical standpoint, an extremely major challenge. Successfully completing 30 radiotherapy sessions, freeing the patient from the ventilator, and restoring his normal breathing is one of the greatest achievements for our entire team. I am proud to have been able to send this young patient home healthy, and to have been part of this extraordinary effort by Evercare Hospital Chattogram's coordinated medical team."

Dr. Hassan Shahriar Kabir, Director, Medical Services,said, "Every patient recovering and returning to a normal life is our greatest achievement. This success proves that with the right decisions at the right time, modern technology, and coordinated treatment systems, world-class complex cancer treatment can be provided right here in Bangladesh."

Samir Singh, Chief Operating Officer (COO)said, "In this kind of complex cancer treatment, modern technology alone is not enough; what is needed is timely decision-making, expertise, and coordinated effort from doctors across different departments. This success proves that world-class complex cancer treatment can now be delivered right here in Chattogram."

Doctors and healthcare workers from Radiation and Medical Oncology, Critical Care (ICU), Internal Medicine, Respiratory Medicine, Cardiology, ENT, Physiotherapy, Nutrition, and Nursing departments worked tirelessly and in a coordinated manner to make this life-saving treatment a success.

The press briefing was attended by Prof. Dr. Sajjad Mohammad Yousuf, Visiting Senior Consultant (Medical and Radiation Oncology); Dr. Tanvir Ahmed, Consultant & Coordinator - Radiotherapy Service (Medical & Radiation Oncology); Dr. Hasnina Akter, Consultant (Medical and Radiation Oncology); Dr. Nayan Bhowmik, Attending Consultant (Medical and Radiation Oncology); Prof. Dr. A.A.M. Raihan Uddin, Senior Consultant (Internal Medicine and Critical Care); and Dr. Sheikh-Ul Alam, Attending Consultant (Critical Care Medicine).

The patient's family expressed heartfelt thanks and gratitude to all the doctors, nurses, and healthcare workers involved in this treatment. In particular, they expressed deep gratitude to Evercare Hospital Chattogram's Medical ICU (MICU) and Critical Care team, the Radiotherapy Department, the Radiation and Medical Oncology Department, the Internal Medicine Department, the Respiratory Medicine Department, the Cardiology Department, the ENT Department, the Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation team, the Nutrition and Dietetics team, and the Nursing team for their combined and tireless service.