AIIMS New Delhi Doctors Perform Rare Hysterectomy on Tiny Patient
Doctors at AIIMS New Delhi successfully performed a complex laparoscopic hysterectomy on a woman with severe short stature and osteoporosis.
In a remarkable medical feat, a multidisciplinary team of doctors at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) New Delhi has successfully performed a rare keyhole (laparoscopic) hysterectomy on a 44-year-old woman. The procedure was exceptionally challenging due to the patient's severe short stature and fragile physical condition, making it a significant achievement for the institution.
A High-Risk Surgical Challenge
The patient presented a complex clinical profile that posed immense risks to the surgical team. Standing at just 98 cm and weighing 22 kg—physical dimensions comparable to those of a four-year-old child—the woman also suffered from severe osteoporosis. She had been battling debilitating pelvic pain caused by adenomyosis and deep endometriosis, which necessitated the surgery.
The medical team faced two primary hurdles: the extreme risk of bone fractures due to her osteoporosis and potential airway complications during anesthesia. To mitigate these dangers, the doctors employed a customized flat positioning strategy and specialized pain management protocols to ensure the patient's safety throughout the operation.
Precision and Recovery
The surgical precision paid off as the team completed the laparoscopic procedure in 90 minutes. By using a minimally invasive approach, the doctors were able to address the endometriosis and adenomyosis without causing further trauma to the patient's delicate frame. The recovery was seamless, and the woman was discharged just three days after the surgery.
The success of the operation was the result of a coordinated effort between the Department of Gynaecology, led by Prof Reeta Mahey and Dr Swati Tomar, and the Anaesthesia team, comprising Dr Parin Lalwani and Dr Choro Athiphro Kayina. The procedure was supported by the leadership of Prof Neena Malhotra, Head of the OBGYN Department, and Prof K Aparna Sharma.
Advancing Surgical Frontiers: Super Microsurgery
This success follows another major milestone at AIIMS New Delhi. A month prior, on September 16 and 17, the institute hosted a specialized workshop on "super microsurgery," showcasing the cutting edge of reconstructive medicine.
Super microsurgery is an advanced field that involves operating on blood vessels smaller than 0.8 mm—some as fine as 0.3 to 0.5 mm. This requires ultra-powerful surgical microscopes and sutures that are three to five times thinner than a single strand of human hair, allowing surgeons to repair tissues that are invisible under standard microscopes.
Breakthroughs in Reconstruction
During the workshop, six complex surgeries were performed, including:
- Lymphatic super microsurgery to treat filariasis and swelling in the arm following breast cancer.
- The reconstruction of a non-healing diabetic foot ulcer using an ultra-thin skin flap.
The Department of Plastic Surgery organized the event, featuring global expertise from Professor Joon Pio (J.P.) Hong of South Korea, a world-renowned authority in lymphatic reconstruction. Other key contributors included Dr Hari Venkatramani from Ganga Hospital, Coimbatore, and Dr Samreen Jaffar from Aster Hospital, Kasaragod, along with AIIMS faculty members Dr Maneesh Singhal, Dr Shashank Chauhan, Dr Shivangi Saha, and Dr Nandini Singh Tanwar.
The Future of Treatment at AIIMS
The workshop also demonstrated advanced mapping technologies, including high-frequency ultrasound mapping and Indocyanine Green (ICG) infrared mapping. While AIIMS New Delhi already performs over 300 microsurgery procedures annually, the integration of super microsurgery and advanced mapping is expected to expand treatment options for lymphoedema, diabetic ulcers, and various cancers.
Medical experts believe these advanced techniques could eventually open new doors for treating complex conditions such as migraines and dementia surgery.