A 90-year-old man underwent complex surgery to address life-threatening complications from a rare hiatal hernia. This condition had caused his stomach to move up towards the chest. The patient, Muralidhar, presented with severe breathing difficulty while eating. He was unable to eat anything, and doing that caused vomiting. Apart from this, there was heaviness in the chest region. Also, he mentioned an alarming statement that he lost 10 kg in a month.
The doctors at Sir Gangaram Hospital, Delhi, examined him and found that some part of his stomach was pushed towards his chest through a minute opening, the diaphragm. This is a life-threatening rare condition, called 'Gastric Volvulus'. This condition occurs due to a hiatal hernia, that causes the stomach to move towards the chest region.
Several doctor refused to take the risk of surgery. They all said it was risky at this age. I had a little hope of being successfully treated.
Muralidhar (The Patient)
The case was handled by Dr Tarun Mittal, who said that the surgery on a 90-year-old patient was very complex and challenging.
The surgery went well. The treatment involved bringing the stomach back to its place and placement of a mesh to prevent the abdominal contents from moving upward towards the chest.
The doctors said that the diagnosis of this condition is very challenging as it is rarely considered. According to them, gastric volvulus occurs in around 1 in 100,000 patients who have undergone any stomach surgery.
The mortality rate of this rare condition is 15-25%.
It was a four-hour-long surgery. After the surgery, the patient's condition improved significantly. Muralidhar was grateful to the team of doctors who treated him. Now he can eat and is hoping for many more good years to live with his family.
(Input from various sources)
(Rehash/ Dr. Pragati Priya/MSM)
