Pune: A Canadian woman of Indian descent successfully underwent surgery at Manipal Hospital, Baner, to remove a 13-kilogram non-cancerous uterine fibroid.

The woman was experiencing persistent bleeding, menstrual pain, and back and abdominal discomfort when she was brought to the hospital. Medical examinations revealed a large fibroid in her uterus, comparable in size to a full-term baby (36 weeks pregnant).

Uterine fibroids are typically non-cancerous tumors that develop in the walls or interior of the uterus, leading to increased menstrual bleeding, abdominal pain, and pressure on the abdomen or intestines. If left untreated, these fibroids can grow in size and number.

Various treatment options are available, and minimally invasive 'total laparoscopic hysterectomy' was chosen for this patient, as explained by Dr. Balaji Nalwad, an obstetrician and gynecologist at Manipal Hospital.

Dr. Nalwad noted that the woman had been receiving medical treatment in Canada without success. Weighing 115 kilograms and having undergone three previous cesarean sections, the patient faced a high risk of complications during surgery.

She also had other health challenges, including hyperthyroidism, diabetes, heart-related issues, and obesity. Given the large uterine fibroid, a total laparoscopic hysterectomy was decided upon, involving 5 to 10 millimeter incisions and the use of special instruments and a camera. This method poses less risk compared to traditional open surgery.

The patient’s medical history and the size of the fibroid presented additional challenges for the surgery. Consequently, the safe and effective option of laparoscopic surgery was chosen. The patient was discharged 72 hours post-surgery, and her symptoms have shown significant improvement since then, according to Dr. Nalwad.