Bariatric surgery performed for first time at AIIMS-Patna

Patna: For the first time bariatric surgery was successfully performed at AIIMS-Patna.With the introduction of bariatric surgery, an advanced metabolic weight-loss procedure, this service has been brought to govt healthcare system in Bihar.The operation was performed on Saturday on a 24-year-old woman weighing 110 kg, with a BMI (body mass index) exceeding 42. The patient also suffered from polycystic ovarian sisease (PCOD) and infertility issues.The surgical team was led by Dr Utpal, Dr Basant and Dr Kunal, with mentorship from Dr Nirupam Sinha of NSMCH, Bihta. Because bariatric patients present high-risk profiles involving difficult airway management and reduced lung compliance, the department of anaesthesiology and critical care, led by Dr Neeraj and overseen by department head Dr Umesh Bhadani, managed the perioperative and intraoperative care.Executive director Brig Dr Raju Agarwal said the introduction of bariatric services is a strategic expansion aimed at addressing the rising burden of lifestyle diseases through the public system. By providing this super-speciality service, the institution aims to offer an affordable alternative to expensive private sector treatments for conditions such as morbid obesity, diabetes, and hypertension.Following this initial success, AIIMS-Patna intends to establish a structured bariatric programme. This initiative will integrate pre-operative counselling, nutritional management, and psychological evaluation with long-term follow-up care to ensure sustained metabolic health outcomes for patients in the region.Bariatric surgery is globally recognised as a metabolic intervention, not merely for weight reduction but for reversing or significantly improving obesity related conditions. It reduces the risk of diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, fatty liver, sleep apnea and degenerative joint disorders. For young patients, early intervention prevents decades of chronic illness, enhances mobility and improves quality of life.