ILDS treats liver cirrhosis with haemorrhage
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, March 13 2024: For the first time in the entire northeast region, a patient suffering from fundal varices or Splenic Vein Thrombosis with fundal varices (liver cirrhosis with haemorrhage) in medical term, has been treated successfully at the Institute of Liver and Digestive Sciences (ILDS), Imphal using endoscopic ultrasound.

Informing this to the media at the Kwakeithel Heinoukhong-nembi hospital of the Institute, on Wednesday, director and chief of gastroenterology, hepatology, and advance endoscopy Dr Nongthombam Surajkumar said that the patient was the 52nd patient, who had undergone similar medical procedures successfully in the hospital since its inception.

Using Endoscopic Ultrasound in the treatment of Splenic Vein Thrombosis is the most advanced treatment option and no hospitals in the northeast had conducted such procedure so far.

Success of the last 51 patients were not declared publicly as the hospital was yet to get the registration, which it formalised about a month back, he revealed.

Speaking about the health condition, Dr Surajkumar explained that patients suffering from such conditions will experience significant hematemesis (vomiting blood) and dark (black) stool along with light-headedness and low blood pressure, a life threatening condition mandating immediate attention.

Since the procedure involves high risk, it necessitates extensive training and use of specific equipment like Endoscope (Olympus ME-3), which has integrated ultrasound feature.

With the help of the equipment, nester coil (nester embolisation coil) is injected into the varices followed by injection of cyanoacrylate glue by using 19G needles to stop the bleeding.

Though the one-time procedure involves risk, the treatment itself has minimal risks.

Patients with successful procedure are often discharged from the hospital in a couple of days, he maintained.

Pointing out that earlier, patients suffering from such conditions often die as taking them to other states for medical attention is time-consuming process, which the patient does not have, Dr Surajkumar said the hospital introduced the procedure in view of the importance of the same in the state.

Chipping in, ILDS medical superintendent and former health services director Dr Sasheekumar Mangang said that he joined the hospital following retirement after witnessing the healthcare services provided by the hospital in the field of liver and digestive tract diseases.

Gastroenterologist Dr Ro-shlin, liver transplant surgeon Dr Longjam Chittaranjan and chief of GI and liver transplant anaesthesia Dr Ningthoujam Surjakanta were also present at the media briefing.

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