Aligarh : In a remarkable medical feat, surgeons at JN Medical College, Aligarh Muslim University, have successfully performed the institution’s inaugural laparoscopic bariatric surgery. The procedure, aimed at reducing weight in severely obese patients, was led by Dr. Wasif Mohammad Ali and was supervised by Prof. Syed Amjad Ali Rizvi.
The surgery, conducted on a 32-year-old female patient weighing 112 kg with a BMI of 44 kg/m2, marked a significant milestone for JNMC. Suffering from a range of weight-related health issues, including joint pain, morbid obesity, uncontrolled diabetes, and high blood pressure, the patient found a lifeline in bariatric surgery, which was previously financially out of reach in corporate healthcare settings where costs can exceed Rs. 5 lakhs.
At JNMC, the entire procedure cost just one fifth of that amount. The surgery, known as laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy, involved the removal of a large part of the stomach, leaving behind a narrow tube-like pouch or sleeve. This not only curtailed food intake but also reduced the patient’s food cravings through hormonal changes.
Remarkably, the patient was able to eat on the second day post-surgery and was discharged on the third day. Six months later, she had shed an impressive 29 kgs and no longer required medication for diabetes or hypertension. Another patient, weighing 120 kg with a BMI of 46 kg/m2, underwent a similar surgery and has already lost 28 kg within five months post-surgery.
Dr. Wasif emphasised the limited success of non-surgical weight loss interventions and highlighted the effectiveness of bariatric surgery in motivated patients with a BMI over 35 and weight-related comorbidities. The surgical team, comprising Prof. SAA Rizvi, Dr. Wasif M Ali, Dr. Manzoor Ahmad, Dr. Imad Ali, and Dr. Emad Alvi, along with the anaesthesia team led by Dr. Kamran Habib, played crucial roles in ensuring the success of these procedures.
The surgeries at JNMC signify a new era in accessible and effective weight reduction treatments, offering hope to patients grappling with severe obesity and its associated health complications.