Fortis Flt. Lt. Rajan Dhall Hospital, Vasant Kunj

• Reported BMI of patient was 75.8 during the time of admission
• Patient was brought in with co-morbidities – Depression, Diabetes Mellitus, Hypertension & Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

New Delhi, 21st Feb 2018:For 52-year-old Anju Chowdhary losing weight had been a concern for all her life. It had led to depression, hypertension, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and diabetes mellitus over the years. She had tried to introduce radical lifestyle changes by exercising diet and portion control along with routine exercise. However, the results often took time, weakening her resolve. Her condition deteriorated steadily and eventually she reached a weight of 200 kilos, with a body mass index of 75.8 (obesity is a BMI greater than or equal to 30[1]). Anju was brought to Fortis Flt Lt Rajan Dhall Hospital at Vasant Kunj as she was finding it difficult to function in her in her daily life and was unable to walk or breathe properly. A multi – disciplinary team of doctors led by Dr. Randeep Wadhawan, Director, MAS, Bariatric & GI Surgery Fortis Flt. Lt. Rajan Dhall Hospital, Vasant Kunj was assembled to perform a lifesaving bariatric surgery on the patient.

The operation lasted for five hours. Six doctors from various disciplines (pulmonology, cardiology, endocrinology and anaesthesia) worked together to ensure the surgery went off smoothly. Her procedure resulted in the loss of over 30 kilos. The surgery was not without challenges. Specialised operation tables and equipment had to be arranged. Reaching the point of incision under the layers of fat was a challenge. Time management was essential as the anaesthesia administered to the patient was the same that would have been administered to a lean patient. Immediately after the surgery the patient was put onto a ventilator. Post operation period was free of any complications; however the patient was put on oxygen support. This continued for a week after she was discharged as well.

According to Dr. Randeep Wadhawan, “Operating on an obese patient presents its own complexities. This is why several tests had to be conducted and the patient had to be put under observation. Navigating through the layers of fat to ensure that the incision point was properly identified had to be done in a timely manner. Once the operation was conducted we noticed that the patient’s body was responding well. Movement became possible and easier. The patient was feeling lighter. Had we not conducted the surgery, it could have left the patient bed ridden for life. Currently we look at her being able to lose 100 kilos in the next 18 months and lead a healthier life.”

Mr. Sandeep Guduru, Facility Director, Fortis Ft. Lt. Rajan Dhall Hospital, Vasant Kunj said, “The team, which was able to successfully conduct this surgery adopted a very advanced and comprehensive approach to tackle this case. They have given the patient a second chance at life and I am happy to report that she is doing extremely well. From not being able to walk at all, she is now able to take the staircase.”

Interacting with media persons, said Anju, “The more I tried to lose weight, the more I seemed to gain. I couldn’t move and I had no life outside the four walls of my room. I would stay at home and refuse to meet people or attend social gatherings. I began feeling overwhelmed as I did not know how to tackle my weight gain. I was not able to envision a better or happier life for myself. Finally when the decision to undergo bariatric surgery was taken I felt a ray of hope. The surgical procedure was smooth without many complications. Now that I have been given a second chance I will live healthy and continue losing weight.”

According to the WHO, obesity has tripled since 1975. As of 2016, more than 1.9 billion adults were overweight out of which over 650 million were obese. Out of the 39% of adults who were overweight/obese in 2016, 30% were men and 40% were women. People are considered overweight if their body mass index is greater than or equal to 25. A person is obese if their body mass index is greater than or equal to 30.