Recently, a 90-year-old man suffered from a unique and crippling medical ailment that made it difficult for him to breathe and eat since a portion of his stomach was forced up against his chest. Less than 1% of people have this ailment, called a hiatal hernia, which is defined by the top portion of the stomach pushing through the diaphragm and into the chest cavity. A hiatal hernia can compress the lungs and result in severe symptoms since the diaphragm is the big muscle that divides the chest from the abdomen.
The old patient was so uncomfortable that he threw up after every meal, which left him with a chronic chest ache and sensation of heaviness. The severity of these feelings caused the patient to become fearful of eating, which resulted in a notable weight loss of almost 5 kg in just 11 days. When he started to experience dyspnea, his situation worsened even more and required immediate medical attention.
Following a comprehensive examination that included an endoscopy, medical professionals at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital diagnosed him with a hiatal hernia. Leading the medical team in diagnosis was Department of Laparoscopic and Laser Surgery’s Dr. Tarun Mittal. A significant hiatus hernia, where part of the patient’s stomach had pushed upward into his chest through a hole, was discovered during the endoscopy.
Surgery was judged required due to the patient’s old age and the complexity of the case. Surgery was necessary because of the patient’s severe symptoms and the impact it was having on his health, even though certain varieties of hiatal hernias do not require treatment. The surgeons Drs. Anmol Ahuja, Tanushree, and Karthik, as well as senior anesthetist Dr. Ashish Dey, carefully prepared and carried out a laparoscopic (keyhole) surgery.
During the procedure, the surgical team encountered severe adhesions around the hernia. These adhesions had to be carefully dissected in a process known as adhesiolysis to free the herniated stomach. Once the stomach was freed, it was repositioned back into the abdominal cavity. The defect in the diaphragm was then closed and reinforced with a composite mesh to prevent recurrence. Additionally, a procedure called fundoplication was performed to treat stomach acid reflux and ensure the best possible outcome for the patient.
The procedure was difficult but effective. In addition to making it through the surgery, the patient started to heal quickly. Amazingly, a day following the surgery, he was able to commence walking and was promptly released from the hospital. The accomplishment highlights the proficiency and commitment of the medical staff at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital.
The instance illustrates the difficulties and intricacies involved in caring for elderly persons with serious illnesses. Additionally, it highlights the developments in laparoscopic surgery techniques that enable less intrusive procedures, even for high-risk patients, resulting in faster recovery periods and better outcomes. The patient’s recovery from such a crippling ailment is evidence of the value of prompt medical attention and the efficacy of contemporary surgical procedures.
SOURCE:
INDIA TODAY
