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Series 2: 1. Unchartered Territory

On the shoulders of the surgeons and their teams as they save and change lives in Wales’s largest hospital in Cardiff. Each day, the battle resumes to make a dent in the longest waiting times in history. But with emergency cases on top of those waiting, surgeons face near impossible calls to decide who to treat next. Many go above and beyond, driven by what is at stake for the patients whose lives are in their hands.\n\nIn the ear, nose and throat department, consultant surgeon Stuart Quine is preparing to perform a pioneering operation to remove a rare tumour from father-of-two Terry. But the operation has only been done a handful of times in the UK, and never before in Wales. Terry has an aggressive, hard-to-reach malignant tumour at the back of his nose. If Stuart doesn’t operate now, it will grow and soon become inoperable. The only way Stuart can access the tumour is by using groundbreaking robot technology. It’s high risk, making it an anxious time for Terry and his wife, and a challenge that will push Stuart to his limits. \n\nIn neurosurgery, 27-year-old Courtney has reached the top of consultant Ravi Nannapaneni’s waiting list. Ravi is one of 13 consultants in the unit. He also happens to have one of the highest IQs in the country and is regional officer for Mensa in Wales. Courtney has a rare condition called Chiari malformation, meaning part of her brain is pushing down into her spinal canal, causing numbness in her feet and legs. If not treated, it could lead to double vision and limb paralysis. In delicate surgery, Ravi must remove a small part of Courtney’s brain to relieve the pressure on her spinal cord. \n\nAt the University Hospital Llandough, cardiac surgeon Indu Deglurkar must find theatre space to urgently treat Tyerone. The 51-year-old is passionate about exercise and martial arts, so is shocked to learn he needs major open-heart surgery. But the procedure becomes more challenging than Indu expected.

Source: BBC 2