The patient who appeared pregnant and had low haemoglobin and irregular periods successfully underwent fibroid removal surgery
A team led by Dr Preethika Shetty, Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologist, Motherhood Hospitals, Kharadi surgically removed a giant fibroid weighing 5.6 kg, equivalent to a full-term baby in size, by giving a fresh lease of life to a 38-year-old woman. The patient who appeared pregnant and had low haemoglobin and irregular periods successfully underwent fibroid removal surgery.
Dr Preethika Shetty, Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologist, Motherhood Hospitals, Kharadi said, “On arrival, she had a history of menorrhagia (abnormally heavy or prolonged bleeding) and anaemia for one year. She had irregular bleeding, but the bleeding was high, and cramps as well. Her tummy was big and looked like a 36-week unborn baby inside her. By sonography, we revealed the presence of a huge fibroid that damaged her uterus. Nowadays, fibroids are a common occurrence. Uterine fibroids are mainly non-cancerous tumours present in the uterus. The condition affects women belonging to reproductive age. These fibroids are also called leiomyomas or myomas and are there with or without symptoms. But not many women are aware of this and neglect it.”
Dr Shetty added, “Her condition was worsening as one of her kidneys was also under pressure due to the large fibroid of 5.6 kgs, along with both the ureters (urine tubes). It was very difficult for us to reconstruct her urine tubes and uterus. So, we had to secure dilated ureters by a procedure called D J stenting (the procedure to place a thin, flexible plastic tube that is temporarily in the ureter to help urine drain from the kidney into the bladder in the case of a blockage) and with due consent from the patient, we had to remove her uterus (open hysterectomy). The surgery went for two hours, and she was discharged post-surgery after 50 hours. Not treating her at the right time could have occurred more complications like anaemia, which can cause exhaustion and lethargy. In severe cases, heart problems can result from anaemia. cases of fibroids have become more than a doubling over the last three decades. Factors behind it are later marriages, later pregnancies, and fewer pregnancies. And women should opt for regular gynaecological check-ups to spot any abnormalities related to the uterus and one shouldn’t delay the signs and symptoms they are seeing.”
“Fibroids are benign growths commonly seen in the uterus. They can be of size from seedlings and even form bulky masses that can distort and enlarge one’s uterus. Fibroids are undetected until it starts showing symptoms. Signs like heavy bleeding during menstruation, pelvic pain, frequent urination, rectum pain, constipation, bloating, periods lasting more than eight days, and blood clots, can indicate the presence of fibroids. Most women may get stressed and anxious thinking fibroids can cause cancer. If left untreated, fibroids can lead to miscarriage, infertility (as it disrupts the fertilization process), pregnancy complications such as placental abruption and preterm labour, and a caesarean section. 60-70 per cent of women don’t know about laparoscopic surgery, 40-50 per cent of women are suffering from fibroids and are unaware of this condition, 25 to 35 per cent of women don’t come for gynaecologist checks, have fibroids and they don’t come until it starts showing symptoms or it’s too late to realise. Women shouldn’t take these symptoms lightly and come forward for checks with their gynaecologist,” said Dr Karishma Dafle, Fertility Consultant, Nova IVF Fertility, Pune.
