Vijayawada: In this present pandemic time, the importance of timely diagnosis has gained a lot of attention. Seeking timely advice from experts can help in getting timely intervention before the situation gets out of hand. This case is the perfect testimony as to why timely advice is very important. Since 2009, the patient went around various hospitals across cities like Hyderabad, Guntur and Vijayawada etc for his obesity problems. But he wasn’t able to get the exact reason or direction from these hospital visits.

He was putting on excessive weight rapidly and was weighing 124kgs. His breathing became heavy; he was experiencing severe body and joints pains, continuous shivering, uneven and unhealthy appetite. This condition went on for close to 8+ years. He stopped working for 2 years from 2016 because of these complications which made it a difficult task for him. Even doing daily activities was a severe experience for him. Even the doctors he had shown to were suggesting him to do various kinds of diets but were to no avail.

Speaking at the conference, Dr. Murali Krishna Ganguri – Consultant Diabetes & Endocrinology, Manipal Hospital, Vijayawada, said “When the patient visited us, I was surprised to see that he was highly overweight as he was just 33 yrs old but was weighing 124kgs. Seeing his ultrasound report we grew suspicious of NAFLD (Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease) and suggested some tests which are specific for a liver condition like fibro scan, Triple phase CECT etc.”

Once he is diagnosed as NAFLD cirrhosis with obesity, the team of doctors Dr. Ravi Shankar Tata, Consultant – Medical Gastroenterology, Dr. Surendra Jasti, Consultant – Surgical Gastroenterology, Dr. Renu Kumar – Consultant Liver Transplant Surgery and Dr. Murali Krishna Ganguri, Consultant Diabetes & Endocrinology decided to offer the patient Bariatric surgery and explained to him how this surgery is going to help him lose his weight and save his liver.

Adding to this Dr Surendra Jasti, Consultant – Surgical Gastroenterology, Manipal Hospital, Vijayawada, said “Doing bariatric surgery in a cirrhotic liver is going to be challenging because of bleeding, tendency, technical difficulties during surgery due to presence of large blood vessels, anaesthesia etc. The patient was optimised before surgery by the liver team. Because of this planning and experience of the team, surgery was conducted without any complications. Accumulation of fat in the liver can cause liver failure. It is not always alcohol or viral infections which causes liver failure. So people who are obese and having high-grade fatty livers need to address the problem of obesity. The only permanent solution for obesity is Bariatric Surgery.”

Concluding the conference, Dr. Sudhakar Kantipudi – Hospital Director, Manipal Hospital, Vijayawada, said “After the treatment, the patient was discharged. Since then, he lost close to 34kgs and weighs 90kgs presently. He was relieved from his back pain, sugar problem, and his liver is functioning better. I would like to appreciate the timely efforts put in by the team of doctors and staff to make sure he is being discharged in a very safe and healthy condition.”