Bariatric surgery helps 131-kg woman to lose 64-kg

Mohali: A middle-aged overweight woman (131-kg) got a lease of life after bariatric surgery at Max Hospital, Mohali. Besides obesity she was also suffering from severe respiratory failure, severe pulmonary hypertension and uncontrolled diabetes mellitus

She was rushed to hospital in critical condition in July last and underwent surgery then. Now after 8-month, she stands at 67-kgs thus losing 64-kg post surgery and leading a healthy and disease-free life.

Giving details on Friday, Dr. Anupam Goel, consultant at Max Institute of Minimal Access, Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery, who treated the patient said, “She was not able to move freely, and required a machine to breathe during sleep. She was also taking a lot of medications for diabetes and hypertension and was badly depressed about the quality of her life. After proper medical optimization and pre-anesthesia check-ups, she was operated for laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy.”

She was discharged in satisfactory condition within 2-3 days post-surgery and her  diabetes and hypertension medicines were also gradually discontinued, informed Dr Goel.  

Dr Goel further said that obesity is increasing alarmingly nowadays among Indians. It is the root cause of many other health problems thus it is imperative to be treated as a health condition of its own.

Bariatric or metabolic surgery is proven to be a safe, effective, and permanent method of weight-loss. It is performed laparoscopically with some 5-10 mm puncture and leaves no scars, allows early recovery/return to work and better cosmesis, and requires only 2-3 days of hospital stay, opined Dr Goel.