For two years, 50-year-old Sathyavathi had difficulty swallowing. And, she felt her stomach was empty all the time.
It was only after she approached doctors at Government Kilpauk Medical College Hospital (KMCH) on May 22, she learnt she suffered from a rare condition.
Sathyavathi was diagnosed with having a stomach-like pouch at the beginning of her food pipe.
“The food she ate went directly into this pouch and got stagnated. In some persons, the valve in the food pipe remains tight, making swallowing difficult. Due to continuous pressure while swallowing, the part of the food pipe above the valve expands to form a pouch,” said K. Ravi, head of ENT at KMCH.
The pouch — known as pharyngeal diverticulum — is a rare condition, supposedly common in men. Dr. Ravi said, globally, this condition is seen in two persons in a lakh.
While operating on Sathyavathi, the team of doctors, including Dr. Ravi and Sugukumar, professor of surgical gastroenterology, exercised great caution as the sac in the neck was close to key blood vessels and the voice box. The pouch was excised on June 6.
The tight muscles in the valve were also released to enable easy swallowing.
Following surgery, Ms. Sathyavathi, who resides near Chidambaram, is able to take food normally and has been discharged.
N. Gunasekaran, dean of KMCH, said the instruments necessary for the surgery were purchased under the Chief Minister’s Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme.
