A 37-year-old man with corrosive injury of oesophagus caused by a suicide attempt by consuming sulphuric acid was corrected through a critical seven-hour surgery, ‘coloplasty’, at Kanyakumari Government Medical College Hospital (KGMCH) here recently.
S. Vadivel Murugan, Dean, told reporters here on Wednesday that Periyar Selvam, a resident of Palayamkottai, had been suffering from ingestion problem for over two years. He got initial treatment at Tirunelveli Government Medical College Hospital from where he was referred to Stanley Medical College in Chennai. There he was treated for stricture oesophagus.
Later, he was diagnosed with corrosive injury of oesophagus at hypo-pharynx and thoracic oesophagus. The strictures were dilated endosurgically at regular intervals. He was dilated nearly 20 times. Frequency of dilatation increased because of the progression of the disease.
After coming to know that the critical surgical procedures were done at the KGMCH in the past, Mr. Periyar Selvam approached the hospital. A team of doctors, headed by A. Antoine Berty, Surgical Gastroenterologist, and comprising Prof. A. Usha, P. Senthil Kumar, Angelin Vincent, successfully operated upon the patient. A 40-cm-length of new tube, created by altering the large intestine, was fixed from the mouth to the stomach for smooth passage of food.
The entire cost of surgery was met through the Chief Minister’s Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme. The patient was progressing well after the surgery, Dr. Vadivel Murugan said.
