After unintentionally keeping a potentially fatal device inside his body for two years—a stent that was placed during a surgical procedure—a 73-year-old man in Pune experienced serious health issues. First implanted in 2022, the stent was a component of an Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) surgery, which is used to identify and treat problems with the pancreas, liver, gallbladder, and bile ducts. Bile drainage and pancreatic duct problems were the goals of the stent. But following the treatment, the man was told to go back to the hospital six weeks later to have the stent taken out. He regrettably neglected to heed this advise, and as a result, the stent remained in place for two years.
The neglected stent caused serious health problems over time. The man started to exhibit symptoms such as fever, jaundice, bloating, and stomach ache. As these symptoms grew worse, he went to Mhaske Hospital in Pune for treatment. After doing an ultrasound, the doctors were surprised to find the stent remaining inside his body. The patient’s situation was further complicated by the development of stones in the bile duct as a result of the stent’s extended presence.
The stones developed as a result of the man’s inability to show up for the planned follow-up, according to Dr. Chetan Mhaske, chief surgeon at Mhaske Hospital. Normally, endoscopy might have been used to remove the stent non-surgically if it had been done within the advised time limit. However, the scenario necessitated surgical intervention because to the two-year wait. To remove the stent and the stones from the man’s bile duct, Dr. Mhaske and his team used laparoscopic surgery.
Following a period of follow-up care, the man recovered from the successful surgery. The stones might have been prevented and the treatment would have been easier and less intrusive if the stent had been taken out sooner. The event serves as a reminder of how crucial it is to adhere to post-procedure instructions, especially when a stent or other similar device is used. It also emphasizes how important prompt medical follow-ups are in preventing potentially fatal consequences.
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