66-Year-Old Woman from Rayagada Undergoes Successful Bariatric Surgery at Manipal Hospital Bhubaneswar

Bhubaneswar: Manipal Hospital Bhubaneswar successfully treated a 66-year-old woman from Rayagada district, Mrs. Niyati Panda (name changed), by performing a complex bariatric surgery. Dr. Lalatendu Mahapatra, Consultant – General, Minimally Access and Bariatric Surgeon, Manipal Hospital Bhubaneswar, carried out the procedure.

Mrs. Panda had been battling obesity for most of her life, with her weight gain attributed to multiple factors. At the time of surgery, she weighed 117 kg with a BMI of 50.2, categorising her in the morbid obesity range.

Over the past three years, her condition worsened significantly, leading to breathlessness, fatigue on mild exertion, and severe limitations in daily activities.

A housewife living with her husband while her children reside in the USA, multiple health issues further burdened her, including hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism, obstructive sleep apnea (requiring nightly CPAP use), pulmonary embolism (for which she was on blood thinners), osteoarthritis of the knees, and severe back pain. These conditions had forced her into a sedentary lifestyle, making even basic household tasks challenging.

She first learned about bariatric surgery from a friend who had undergone a similar procedure with Dr. Mahapatra. Encouraged by the success story, she consulted with the surgical team at Manipal Hospital.

After thorough evaluation and medical optimisation, she underwent a laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy with proximal jejunal bypass, a procedure designed to reduce stomach size and aid long-term weight loss while improving associated health conditions.

The surgery was carried out successfully, with proper deep vein thrombosis (DVT) prophylaxis and careful post-operative care. Currently, Mrs. Panda is on a strict diet plan and has begun walking slowly with the help of crutches.

Her recovery is progressing steadily, and she is optimistic about regaining her independence and mobility.

Dr. Lalatendu Mahapatra acknowledged the collective efforts of the multidisciplinary team, “This case highlights how timely surgical intervention, combined with comprehensive medical care, can drastically improve the quality of life for patients suffering from long-standing obesity and its complications. The success of this procedure was made possible with the dedicated support from the anaesthesia, cardiology, and pulmonology departments, and the hospital’s dieticians, my surgical team, and the nursing staff, who played a vital role in ensuring a safe and effective outcome for the patient.”

Manipal Hospital Bhubaneswar continues to be a centre of excellence for advanced surgical procedures, offering hope and healthier futures to patients across the region.