Vadodara Woman Drinks Water Again After Six-Year Ordeal
A young woman from Vadodara has achieved a remarkable medical milestone. She can now drink water and swallow food normally for the first time in six years. This incredible recovery followed an extremely complex surgical procedure performed by a multidisciplinary team at Parul Sevashram Hospital in the city.
The Long Struggle with a Rare Condition
Six years ago, the 21-year-old woman consumed pesticide. This tragic act led to the development of a severe medical condition called a tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF). In this condition, an abnormal connection forms between the windpipe (trachea) and the food pipe (oesophagus).
Because of this fistula, any food or liquid she attempted to swallow would enter her lungs instead of her stomach. This situation created immense health challenges. She became completely dependent on medical tubes for basic survival.
- A tracheostomy tube was inserted into her neck to help her breathe.
- A ryles tube was used to provide nutrition directly to her stomach.
Her quality of life deteriorated severely. She suffered from recurrent pneumonia and had poor control over bodily secretions. The simple act of eating or drinking became an impossible dream, casting a long shadow over her daily existence.
A Coordinated Surgical Solution
Doctors at Parul Sevashram Hospital took on her challenging case. The treatment required careful, step-by-step planning over several months.
Gastro surgeon Dr. Pratik Shah initiated the process. He first performed a feeding jejunostomy to restore her nutritional status. He also used an endoscope to retrieve a broken segment of the ryles tube that was causing complications.
The core surgical team then prepared for the major operation. This team included cardiothoracic and vascular surgeon Dr. Sagar Sahita and oncosurgeon Dr. Vasantharaja. After nearly three months of meticulous planning, they performed a precise diagnostic procedure.
A combined Oesophagogastroduodenoscopy (OGD) and bronchoscopy allowed them to map the fistula exactly. They located a 3 cm abnormal connection situated 1.5 cm from the carina in her lower mid-trachea.
The Successful Operation and Recovery
Armed with this precise mapping, the surgical team performed a posterolateral thoracotomy. In this complex operation, they successfully achieved primary closure of both the trachea and the oesophagus, repairing the abnormal connection.
The surgery received crucial support from critical care specialists and other super-speciality consultants, highlighting the integrated approach. Following the successful procedure, the team removed the tracheostomy tube she had relied on for years.
A post-operative scan conducted two weeks later delivered excellent news. The scan confirmed healthy, viable tissue flaps with no evidence of leakage, indicating a successful repair.
Teamwork and Accessible Healthcare
Dr. Sagar Sahita emphasised the critical role of collaboration. He stated that an integrated team approach was absolutely essential for managing such a complex and rare medical case. This multidisciplinary effort was key to the patient's recovery.
Remarkably, the entire treatment, including her 45-day hospital stay, was provided completely free of cost. This was made possible under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY) health insurance scheme.
The young woman's story has a profoundly happy ending. Doctors confirm she has now resumed normal oral intake. After six long years, she can finally experience the simple, yet profound, joy of drinking a glass of water again.
