'90 pc obesity diseases curable through gastric balloon placement procedures'
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, June 07 2024:
Institute of Liver and Digestive Sciences (ILDS) managing director Dr N Surajkumar has stated that gastric balloon placement procedures have the potential to contribute to weight loss and mitigate health risks associated with obesity by up to 90 percent.
The procedure has been successfully conducted in ILDS, the first time in the entire north east India.
Addressing media persons at the institute, on Friday, Dr Surajkumar said that obesity could trigger various diseases.
While many people attempt to address obesity through various measures, the associated diseases often remain unresolved.
Informing that advancement in medical science now facilitates removal of excess fat through surgical procedures for obese individuals, he shared the case of a 42-year-old patient admitted to ILDS, who suffered from multiple ailments due to obesity.
With a weight of 121 kg being disproportionate to his height (172 cm), the patient experienced liver cirrhosis, diabetes, high cholesterol, hypertension, lung diseases, low haemoglobin and low oxygen levels.
The patient's treatment could only commence after weight reduction, allowing for sequential management of each condition through consultation with multiple specialists.
Though the excess fat in an individual can be reduced considerably within a short period of time through surgical procedures, the same cannot be applied to the said patient.
As a result, gastric balloon placement proce dures through endoscopy were carried out on the patient, he said.
Describing the procedure, Dr Surajkumar explained that a balloon would be inserted into the patient's stomach using an endoscopic process.
Once inside, the balloon would be inflated, causing the patient to feel consistently full, thereby decreasing the food cravings.
Subsequently, the patient would adhere to a specialised diet plan prescribed by a dietician and incorporate some exercise routines to further manage weight.
After a year, the balloon would be removed, and throughout this period, the patient's lifestyle would undergo changes aimed at reducing their weight.
As a result of the weight loss, approximately 90 percent of obesity-related illnesses would be effectively treated.
He asserted that the mentioned procedure has been successfully performed at ILDS, marking the first occurrence in the entire Northeast India region.
Notably, this procedure has previously been conducted twice at the institute, with the third instance involving the
same 42-year-old patient.