RIMS surgeons remove black fungus of Covid patient
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, June 18 2021: A post-Covid patient suffering from Mucormycosis, commonly known as 'black fungus', was successfully treated by team of ENT surgeons of Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) Imphal.

A release issued by media advisor to RIMS N Phillip Singh said that the team of surgeons comprising Prof Th Sudhiranjan, Dr O Priyokumar and Dr N Jiten Singh and anaesthetist team led by Prof L Pradip and Dr Eshori Longjam conducted the surgery.

The surgery was performed in the nose and paranasal sinuses of the patient.

During the surgery, mucormycosis was found to have involved in the right maxillary sinus, ethmoid sinuses, middle and inferior turbinates, posterior part of the nasal septum.

Sphenoid sinus was found to be oedematous but clear of gross disease.

The lamina papyracea (thin wall separating orbit and nasal cavity) and floor of the brain was found to be intact, elaborated the release.

It also stated that all parts involved by the mucormycosis were cleared in the surgery and that the patient is stable after the surgery.

When enquired about the operation conducted on Friday, RIMS' ENT professor Th Sudhiranjan informed The People's Chronicle that Black Fungus is not a new disease but has been in existence.

Moreover, doctors of RIMS hospital had successfully conducted operation when a cancer patient developed black fungus in the past, he said.

Black Fungus usually develops in people with less immunity and this is why it strikes COVID-19 positive patients now who have less immunity and this disease is more susceptible to COVID-19 positive patients and people suffering chronic diseases like diabetes.

Main symptoms of Black Fungus are pain inside eyes, swelling of eyes, expulsion of black mucus from nose, pain at cheek and senseless when touched.

The one and only treatment for this disease is early detection and immediate treatment, he added.

Black Fungus is not a serious disease but it may take life if not detected early, he cautioned and appealed to people to go for early testing and immediate treatment if suspicious of having any symptom.

Professor Sudhiranjan further informed that the patient who was successfully operated upon Friday was undergoing treatment for COVID-19 at RIMS for the past 14 days and the patient was confirmed of developing Black Fungus when tested after showing symptoms like pain in eyes and expulsion of black mucus for around five days.

He also said that the operation was conducted after the patient's diabetic/sugar level normalised and it took around one and half hours only.

The operation was conducted to remove dead tissues damaged by Black Fungus and if not removed, injected medicines would not reach tissues and block blood vessels, and if removed, recovery of the patient will be faster, he said, adding that condition of the patient is improving after the operation.

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