AIIMS Nagpur Achieves Medical Breakthrough in Complex Reconstructive Surgery
In a remarkable display of medical expertise and multidisciplinary care, doctors at AIIMS Nagpur have successfully restored the swallowing ability of a 23-year-old woman who had been unable to eat for nearly two years. The patient had ingested a corrosive substance that caused severe damage to her food pipe and upper digestive tract, leading to a prolonged and debilitating medical crisis.
A Descent into Critical Condition
The woman's condition deteriorated alarmingly over time, reaching a point where she could not swallow even her own saliva. Her nutritional needs were met exclusively through tube gastrostomy and feeding jejunostomy, as oral intake became impossible. By May 2025, her health had declined to critical levels, with her body weight plummeting to just 14 kilograms and her BMI dropping to a dangerously low 5.5.
The patient was completely bedridden, unable to sit or walk independently, and exhibited extreme muscle wasting. This severe physical deterioration highlighted the urgent need for comprehensive medical intervention to address both her nutritional deficits and the structural damage to her digestive system.
Comprehensive Preoperative Preparation
Upon admission to AIIMS Nagpur, the patient was shifted to the Below Poverty Line category to ensure she received free treatment. Over the subsequent eight months, she underwent an intensive preoperative optimization and rehabilitation program designed to prepare her body for the complex surgery ahead.
The multidisciplinary approach included:
- Structured nutritional therapy to address her severe malnutrition
- Physiotherapy sessions to rebuild muscle strength and mobility
- Psychological counseling to support her mental health during recovery
This sustained effort was supervised by the department of physical medicine and rehabilitation, with active support from general medicine and psychiatry departments. The results were transformative: the patient regained sufficient mobility to walk 4,000-6,000 steps daily and increased her weight to 24 kilograms before the scheduled surgery.
The Groundbreaking Reconstructive Procedure
Following detailed deliberations in a multidisciplinary team meeting, doctors planned a definitive reconstructive surgery. On January 12, a team of surgeons performed a meticulous 10-hour operation to reconstruct the damaged food pipe.
The surgical team utilized a segment of the patient's own large intestine to create a new passage beneath the sternum in the chest cavity. This innovative approach involved positioning the intestinal segment to restore continuity of the digestive tract, requiring four critical anastomoses in both the neck and abdominal regions.
The entire treatment, including this complex surgery, was provided free of cost under the Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Jan Arogya Yojana, demonstrating the institution's commitment to accessible healthcare for economically disadvantaged patients.
Remarkable Postoperative Recovery
Postoperative recovery proceeded smoothly under close monitoring in the intensive care unit. Just five days after the surgery, the patient achieved a significant milestone: she resumed oral intake and swallowed food for the first time since 2024.
Her recovery has continued steadily, with an additional weight gain of 2 kilograms since the procedure. This represents not just a physical improvement but a restoration of basic human function that had been lost for nearly two years.
Institutional Commitment to Advanced Care
Dr. Prashant Joshi, Executive Director of AIIMS Nagpur, emphasized that this successful outcome reflects the institute's dedication to delivering advanced, multidisciplinary care for complex medical cases. "This achievement underscores our commitment to providing comprehensive treatment solutions, particularly for economically disadvantaged patients facing severe health challenges," Dr. Joshi stated.
The case demonstrates how coordinated efforts across multiple medical specialties can address even the most challenging health conditions, offering hope and restored quality of life to patients who might otherwise face permanent disability.
