Fortis Hospital specialists in Mumbai successfully perform gastric bypass surgery in American patient

Feb 1 2011

Specialists at Fortis Hospitals Mumbai successfully diagnosed and treated a previously undetected pituitary tumor in Michelle Hardin, a 35 year-old American medical traveler.

Michelle's weight increased from 190 pounds to 300 pounds in the last few years, also resulting in diabetes and hypertension. As she explained, "I tried various diet and weight-loss programs, but to no avail. I constantly felt thirsty and hungry. My obesity caused breathing difficulty (sleep apnea), for which I used a special CPAP machine to keep oxygen under pressure."

"Seven months back, I sought expert opinion in the U.S. and was advised to undergo gastric bypass surgery. Due to the high cost of the surgery in the U.S., I pursued treatment at Fortis Hospitals in India, having heard about the exceptional treatment that several of my co-workers received there by choosing the medical travel option available to us."

Upon arrival at Fortis Hospitals Mumbai, Michelle's pre-op evaluation initiated by Dr. Ramen Goel, Consultant Bariatric Surgeon, revealed an imbalance in her hormone level, and a subsequent MRI scan revealed a one centimeter long tumor on the right side of her pituitary gland.

Dr. Milind Vaidya, Consultant Neurosurgeon who performed the surgery on Michelle, said, "The tumor, situated in pituitary gland at the base of the brain, triggered excessive production of cortisol hormone by the adrenal glands leading to complications like uncontrolled diabetes, hypertension and weight gain. We performed transnasal transsphenoidal excision of the pituitary tumor, a minimally invasive procedure."

Dr. Vaidya used an endoscope and microscope to reach the tumor through her nostrils. He used both the nasal openings to reach the tumor to avoid incision or scar. He took special care to remove every bit of the tumor, to achieve cure and preserve the normal pituitary gland. He said "Michelle is doing very well after surgery, with her diabetes and hypertension now under good control, and she is also gradually losing weight."

Michelle said "I was shocked to learn of the tumor. I thank the doctors at Fortis Hospitals. Had they not diagnosed this, I don't know what would have happened to my life. Now my thirst and appetite have reduced remarkably. Doctors inform me that my weight will be gradually restored to normalcy."

According to Dr. Vaidya, "I am pleased to assure sustainable improvement in Michelle's overall health thanks to timely detection of this tumor. Had we not made this accurate diagnosis, or continued with the originally planned gastric bypass surgery, her condition could have gotten much worse."