Andhra Pradesh: Rare Surgery performed to remove uncommon disorder in food pipe

GUNTUR:

Achalasia cardia

,

an uncommon disorder

, in which the smooth muscle of the oesophagus or food pipe fails to contract, resulting in problems in swallowing food, has been set right by the doctors at

Ramesh Hospital in Guntur.

According to experts, Achalasia cardia occurs in less than 1% of a lakh population and the reasons are unknown. Patients get a sensation that swallowed food as well as liquids get stuck in the chest. This problem invariably progresses and becomes severe. Other symptoms include regurgitation of swallowed food and liquid, chest pain, heartburn, a sensation of fullness or a lump in the throat, hiccups, and weight loss.

Dr Bathina Rajesh, renowned

gastroenterologist at Ramesh Hospital

, Guntur adopted a unique minimally invasive endoscopic procedure Per-Oral Endoscopic Myotomy (POEM)to help relieve the patient of this disorder. The inner circular muscle layer of the lower oesophageal sphincter is divided through a sub-mucosal tunnel, enabling the food and liquid to pass into the stomach. “We have successfully removed the obstacle in oesophagus by using a flexible endoscope Per-Oral Endoscopic Myotomy(POEM), a minimally invasive procedure, which is the protocol treatment for Achalasia cardia” said Dr Bathina Rajesh.

He explained that the procedure was done on a 50-year-old bank employee who had been struggling with the problem for the past three years. He said that the procedure has been carried out under the observation of anaesthesia team and the patient is now able to consume food normally. He explained that they have successfully carried out a similar procedure on a 14-year-old child on Thursday. “It is a rare procedure but simple. It provides complete relief to the patients,” said Dr Rajesh.

Ramesh hospitals group COO Gopikrishna Potluri said that they are bringing the best technologies to AP to provide simple solution to many health ailments. He said that presence of expert medical officers is only prompting them to invest on high-end machinery. “Health sector is witnessing revolutionary advancement across the world. We are bringing every possible facility closer to the people to provide remedies to the years long suffering,” said Gopikrishna.

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