A 16-year-old boy in Delhi had reached a weight of approximately 275 kilograms, causing him difficulty breathing. Given the critical condition, the family decided to admit him to the hospital. However, due to his extreme weight, it was not possible to transport him to the hospital in a normal vehicle, so he was brought to Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in Delhi via a metador.
His condition continued to deteriorate due to complications such as severe breathing problems, obstructive sleep apnea, and infections on large parts of his skin. Upon reaching the hospital, doctors admitted him to the PICU. Due to his increased weight, the patient also suffered from several health issues like diabetes, high blood pressure, and fatty liver. His Body Mass Index (BMI) was recorded at approximately 100, which is not normal for a 16-year-old.
Doctors planned surgery to reduce his weight. Before this, the team thoroughly evaluated all potential risks associated with anesthesia, respiration, cardiac care, laparoscopic surgery, and post-operative care. Finally, a team of about 20 doctors decided to perform bariatric surgery. The patient underwent a laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy, a procedure where a large part of the stomach is removed to shrink the stomach size, allowing it to fill up quickly with less food.
This successful laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy was performed by Dr. Daksh Sethi, Dr. Sudhir Kalhan, Dr. Mukund Khetan, and Dr. Suviraj John from the Institute of Minimal Access, Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi. Due to the patient's body structure, several major technical challenges arose, but the team successfully completed the procedure.
Dr. Daksh Sethi, the chief bariatric surgeon at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, stated that this was not a simple bariatric operation. Considering the patient's age, weight, and severe sleep apnea, careful planning of every stage was necessary. Their first priority was to make the patient medically fit for surgery and ensure that a ready team was available for any potential challenges during and after the procedure.
The patient's recovery after the surgery was satisfactory, and he was discharged from the hospital within just three days. About two months later, his weight dropped from approximately 275 kilograms to 223 kilograms, representing a loss of about 50 kilograms. However, doctors believe that true success will not only be determined by weight loss; the main goal is to improve his breathing, sleep, and mobility, and to reduce the risk of serious diseases associated with obesity.