Chongqing doctor removes rare chest tumor in 11-hour surgery, replaces patient’s blood twice

Mr Shi, the patient, presents a silk banner to doctor Zhao Gaofeng. (Photo/ Screenshot)

(ECNS) -- A doctor in Chongqing performed a life-saving, 11-hour operation to remove a rare chest tumor, during which the patient lost more than 10 liters of blood — enough to replace his entire blood volume twice.

Professor Zhao Gaofeng, director of thoracic surgery at the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, led the procedure on a 20-centimeter mediastinal tumor that had been pressing against the patient’s heart, lungs, and major blood vessels.

Zhao said the tumor had an “extremely abnormal blood supply” from three unusual arteries. “We have never seen anything like this,” he added.

“It was the most difficult operation I’ve ever performed in terms of blood loss - possibly the most challenging of its kind.”

The 50-year-old patient, surnamed Shi, had previously undergone surgery twice elsewhere, but doctors abandoned both operations because of the high risk of bleeding.

Shi recovered smoothly and has since been discharged from the hospital.

(By Zhang Jiahao)