73-year-old woman cured of rare foodpipe disorder

RAK Hospital doctors perform laparoscopic procedure to restore oesophageal function

After suffering excruciating stomach pain for nearly two years, along with throat problems and difficulty swallowing, Bindu F. Dukuly, a 73-year-old American, finally found a cure at RAK Hospital.

She suffered from achalasia cardia, a serious condition caused by the absence of nerves in the oesophagus. Its most common symptom is difficulty swallowing.

Patients get a sensation that swallowed food and liquids are stuck in the chest, with the problem becoming severe over time. Other symptoms include regurgitation of solids and liquids, chest pain, heartburn, a sensation of fullness or a lump in the throat, hiccups, and weight loss.

After diagnosing the food pipe dysfunction, a team of surgeons restored oesophageal function using advanced keyhole surgery.

“Previous surgeries done outside the UAE did not provide any relief to the patient as the disease wasn’t even diagnosed properly,” said Dr Anup Kumar Panigrahi, senior specialist and head of department, Minimal Access Surgery. As a result, the patient had reached a stage where swallowing liquids was impossible.

“The patient was relieved through the laparoscopic Heller-Dor procedure, Dr Panigrahi added.

Dukuly said: “I can’t thank the doctors enough. After going through two unsuccessful surgeries and years of pain, I finally found relief and am able to enjoy my life.”