Hyderabad: SLG Hospitals saves teenageer’s life battling with rare defect

Hyderabad: After battling with a rare type of defect, called Branchial Fistula, since birth, a 16-year-old girl from West Godavari was successfully treated at Hyderabad’s SLG hospital. As the defect was undiscovered for more than nine years, she underwent failed surgical attempts for at least 18 times in the past decade. The patient was brought […]

Hyderabad: After battling with a rare type of defect, called Branchial Fistula, since birth, a 16-year-old girl from West Godavari was successfully treated at Hyderabad’s SLG hospital. As the defect was undiscovered for more than nine years, she underwent failed surgical attempts for at least 18 times in the past decade.

The patient was brought to the hospital with severe swelling in the neck, along with regular pus discharge from that region. She underwent minor to major surgical procedures at least twice each year for the last nine years. Each time the pus was cleared, and temporary relief provided, only for the problem to recur after a few months. The patient also had difficulty in swallowing food, a press release from SLG Hospital said.

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Dr. Bhargaw Ilapakurty, Consultant Head and Neck Cancer, Reconstructive and Laser Surgeon, SLG Hospitals said, “It was a rare problem, and after related examinations, we were able to identify the complication. She was suffering from an abnormal connection between skin and food pipe, which was passing in between major blood vessels from heart to brain. It was located closer to the thyroid gland.”

The patient was operated to remove the whole tract, which was the abnormal connection, without damaging any other parts. “It was a complex procedure and required a multi-disciplinary approach to avoid complications,” he said.

The girl started feeding the same day and was discharged on the third day of the surgery. Dr. Srinivas and Dr. Srikanth Soma along with support staff members were part of the team which treated the patient.

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