Islamabad: Surgeons at Shifa International Hospital have successfully treated an exceptionally rare and complex case of bile duct cancer in a woman who was seven months pregnant, performing high-risk liver surgery followed by modified chemotherapy during pregnancy and later overseeing the safe delivery of a healthy, full-term baby, a senior hospital official said on Wednesday.
According to the official, the patient was diagnosed with hilar cholangiocarcinoma, an aggressive and uncommon cancer of the bile ducts, during the third trimester of pregnancy, a stage at which treatment options are extremely limited and risks to both the mother and fetus are high.
The complex surgery was performed by the hepatobiliary and liver transplant team at Shifa International Hospital under the supervision of Dr Abu Bakar Hafeez Bhatti, in close collaboration with specialists from oncology, obstetrics, anesthesia and neonatal care.
The official said that after extensive evaluation and multidisciplinary discussions, doctors decided to proceed with a highly complex liver operation to remove the cancerous portion of the liver along with the affected bile ducts. The remaining bile duct system was then surgically reconstructed by connecting it to the intestine to restore bile flow.
“Based on our review of available international medical literature, there are no well-documented cases of patients undergoing this extent of surgery for hilar cholangiocarcinoma during advanced pregnancy, followed by chemotherapy during pregnancy and a successful full-term delivery,” the hospital official said, adding that every step of the treatment was carefully tailored to balance maternal survival and fetal safety.
Following the surgery, the patient was placed on a carefully modified chemotherapy regimen while still pregnant, under strict monitoring by oncology and obstetric teams. Despite the known risks associated with chemotherapy during pregnancy, the treatment was completed without major complications.
The patient later delivered a healthy, full-term baby through normal vaginal delivery. Both the mother and child are currently doing well, the official confirmed.
Hospital representatives said the case underscores the critical importance of early diagnosis, individualized clinical decision-making and seamless coordination among multiple medical specialties when managing rare and high-risk conditions.
“This outcome would not have been possible without close collaboration between surgeons, oncologists, obstetricians, anesthetists and neonatal specialists, working together with the patient and her family at every stage,” the official said.
The hospital noted that such cases highlight the growing need for advanced multidisciplinary cancer care in Pakistan, particularly for women who present with life-threatening illnesses during pregnancy, where delays or fragmented care can have fatal consequences.
Shifa International Hospital said it continues to document and review such rare cases to contribute to clinical learning and improve outcomes for future patients facing similarly complex medical challenges.
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