Surgery helps ill girl to gain 20 kg

SHE also had other health problems like absence of menstruation, swollen feet and breathlessness.

The 25-year old Shweta Sharma (name changed) was just 30 kilograms, and was diagnosed with the ‘Pericardial Tuberculosis’. But a surgery helped her to gain weight and now leading a normal life.

Due to her health problems she had spent last ten years in self-imposed seclusion in her home to avoid suggestions and sympathy from others. Dr. Zakia Khan, consultant cardiologist at Fortis Hospital, Kalyan, said she was suffering with breathlessness and heart failure which was caused due to hardening of the membrane around the heart.

She also had other health problems like absence of menstruation, swollen feet and breathlessness. She had consulted many doctors but all were afraid to conduct surgery on her because of the grave risk that could possibly damage her heart.

It is believed that the TB bacilli cannot infect the heart easily, but the infection had affected her pericardium, a translucent sack covering the heart that protects against infections. Dr. Khan said that the pericardial tuberculosis is very rare and it is seen in only 1 per cent of TB patients.

“Last year in October she had come for the surgery. He was suffering from pericardial TB, the pericardium had become thick like an egg shell and prevented the heart from pumping properly. The patient used to feel breathless,” said Dr. Khan.

Dr. Khan recommended her for CT scan and angiography before she was recommended for removal of the pericardium and the surgery could not be conducted immediately as she was in an unstable condition. He said that the patient took 15 days to get stabilized by maintaining the fluid balance, nutrition and her heart rate before conducting the surgery. “Surgery is usually the preferred treatment for pericardial constriction. There was tremendous risk in conducting surgery and the patient and her family were advised accordingly.

The pericardium, which had almost become like an egg shell, was peeled off. Also, nothing was put as a substitute as the heart can function properly without the pericardium,” said Dr. Khan.

Dr. Khan said she will be living a healthy life like a normal woman of her age, “We are keeping a complete watch on her diet and nutrition. She has also completed her TB treatment and now she is weighing 50 kgs,” said Dr. Khan.