With an increasing number of obese patients, weight loss surgeries are performed more often these days in India. A new link-up between the BMC and leading private physicians helped Borivali teenager who was suffering from genetic obesity to undergo Bariatric Surgery at a highly subsidized rate at the LTMG hospital in Sion last week.
Annie Jaison, a class 12th commerce student, carries a rare mutation of the MC4R gene that has resulted in a weight gain though she is a weightlifter that has won medals at the state level. “We started her weightlifting since she was in class 8th due to weight gain, but that didn’t help,” said her father Jaison, a railway employee who is a weightlifter at the national level.
Doctors told the family that Bariatric Surgery was the only option but it cost – Rs 4 lakh plus- was a problem at private hospitals. Jaison’s employer, the railways, was able to reimburse operations carried out at public hospitals. After consultation with bariatric surgeon Dr. Sanjay Borude about two months ago, who had just become a professor emeritus at Sion Hospital, then the way opened. The operation was performed for approximately Rs. 1.5 lakh.
While Annie, 16, is very young, we knew she would continue to gain weight because of the genetic mutation and the best option will be bariatric surgery, said Dr. Borude, who performed surgery on September 18th. To reduce the size of her stomach, he undertook an extensive Gastric Bypass surgery. “The surgical changes would ensure healthy hormonal changes in her body, which will improve metabolism,” he added.
Broude said Annie would lose weight slowly over the coming year. “We set the bar to 60 kg.” Annie, who won a silver medal last November at a state-level school tournament, is hopeful. “I feel good,” she said.
Dr. Ramesh Bharmal, director of medical education at BMC- run hospitals, said Borude, BMC has been associated with a doctor like cancer surgeon Dr. Sultan Pradhan, gastroenterologist Dr. Amit Maydeo, bariatric surgeon Dr. Muffazal Lakdawala and spinal surgeon Dr. Mihir Bapat. “Each of them was made an emeritus professor and will soon begin work in BMC hospitals,” Dr. Bharmal said. Doctors will not charge fees and bring their own equipment to ensure that the best care is provided to poor patients. Such kind of change will surely benefit the poor and needy people who can’t afford treatment in private hospitals.
Reference by: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/bariatric-op-to-battle-weight-gain-gene/articleshow/71342907.cms
