Evercare Hospital Chattogram has achieved a significant milestone in cancer treatment in Bangladesh by successfully completing treatment of an 18-year-old patient suffering from a complex malignant brainstem glioma. The hospital claims that this is the first time in Bangladesh that a patient on active mechanical ventilator support has successfully completed 30 sessions of radiotherapy.

The hospital authorities shared details of the patient’s treatment journey, medical challenges, and current health condition at a press conference held on Wednesday (July 22).

According to the hospital, the patient had been suffering from the complex condition for a long time, but his neurological condition deteriorated rapidly in recent months. He developed weakness on the left side of his body, difficulty in speaking (dysphasia), and repeated breathing complications. He also faced a risk of aspiration due to swallowing difficulties.

Seeking advanced treatment, the patient’s family took him to Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore. However, during treatment there, his condition suddenly worsened, and he suffered acute cardiorespiratory failure. He was placed on mechanical ventilation and later brought back to Bangladesh while still on life support, as continued treatment abroad was not possible.

After returning to Chattogram in a critical condition, the patient was admitted to the Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU) of Evercare Hospital Chattogram. Dr. Bhaskar Chakraborty, Visiting Consultant of the hospital’s Medical & Radiation Oncology Department, took charge of the case.

With consent from the patient’s family, the medical team decided to begin radiotherapy while the patient remained on ventilator support in the ICU. Doctors said providing 30 radiotherapy sessions to a critically ill ICU patient dependent on mechanical ventilation was an extremely complex and technically challenging procedure.

Through continuous monitoring and coordinated efforts between the ICU and oncology teams, the patient’s condition gradually improved. He was successfully weaned off ventilator support, and his tracheostomy tube was later removed. After regaining swallowing ability, his nasogastric (NG) tube was also removed, allowing him to resume normal oral feeding.

The patient also underwent specialised physiotherapy and rehabilitation programmes, following which he regained the ability to walk with the support of a walker. A contrast MRI fusion scan conducted after treatment showed significant improvement in the tumour.

Speaking at the press conference, Dr. Bhaskar Chakraborty said, “Delivering radiotherapy in a complete ICU environment while the patient was on life support or ventilator support was a major medical challenge. Successfully completing 30 radiotherapy sessions, freeing the patient from ventilator support, and restoring normal breathing was a remarkable achievement for our entire team.”

Dr. Hassan Shahriar Kabir, Director of Medical Services at Evercare Hospital Chattogram, said, “Every patient who recovers and returns to normal life is our greatest achievement. This success proves that with timely decisions, modern technology, and coordinated treatment systems, complex cancer treatment of international standards can be provided in Bangladesh.”

Samir Singh, Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Evercare Hospital Chattogram, said, “In complex cancer treatment, technology alone is not enough. Expertise, timely decision-making, and coordination among doctors from different departments are equally important. This success demonstrates that world-class cancer treatment is now possible in Chattogram.”

Doctors and healthcare professionals from Radiation and Medical Oncology, Critical Care (ICU), Internal Medicine, Respiratory Medicine, Cardiology, ENT, Physiotherapy, Nutrition, and Nursing departments worked together to make the treatment successful.

The press conference was attended by Prof. Dr. Sajjad Mohammad Yousuf, Visiting Senior Consultant (Medical and Radiation Oncology); Dr. Tanvir Ahmed, Consultant and Coordinator of Radiotherapy Service; 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 gratitude to all doctors, nurses, and healthcare workers involved in the treatment, especially the teams from the Medical ICU, Critical Care, Radiotherapy, Radiation and Medical Oncology, Internal Medicine, Respiratory Medicine, Cardiology, ENT, Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Nutrition, and Nursing departments.

About Evercare Hospital Chattogram:

Evercare Hospital Chattogram is the first 470-bed multidisciplinary super-specialty tertiary care hospital in Chattogram. The hospital provides 24/7 emergency services, advanced ICU facilities, and treatment across 27 specialties and subspecialties. It has 10 modular operating theatres equipped with Laminar Air Flow and HEPA Filters to maintain advanced infection control standards. With modern technology and more than 500 healthcare professionals, the hospital aims to provide accessible, quality healthcare services to communities in Chattogram and surrounding areas.