Amritsar, June 2: Doctors at Fortis Escorts Hospital, Amritsar have successfully performed a highly complex abdominal wall reconstruction surgery on a 76-year-old man suffering from a giant abdominal hernia, a rare and high-risk condition in which a large portion of the abdominal organs protruded through a severely weakened abdominal wall. Owing to the complexity of the case, several hospitals across Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu and Kashmir had declined to undertake the surgery. However, a multidisciplinary team led by Dr. Arun K. Sharma Consultant – GI, Minimal Access and Bariatric Surgery, Fortis Escorts Hospital Amritsar, successfully carried out the challenging and complex surgery. Following the surgery, the patient made a steady recovery and was discharged in stable condition within four days, marking a significant milestone in his return to normal daily activities.
The patient, a farmer from a remote village in Kathua district of Jammu & Kashmir, had undergone multiple abdominal surgeries in 2024 following a severe intestinal infection. The surgeries, however, led to complete loss of the abdominal wall, with only a thin layer of skin separating his intestines from the external environment. As a result, a large portion of his abdominal organs protruded outward, causing severe discomfort, breathing difficulties, and significant limitations in mobility and day-to-day functioning.
Post detailed evaluation at Fortis Escorts Amritsar, a multidisciplinary surgical team decided to perform an advanced Abdominal wall reconstruction with Bilateral Transversus abdominis release, a highly specialised procedure used to repair large and complex abdominal wall defects while restoring strength and function to the abdominal wall.
Giving details of the case, Dr. Arun K. Sharma, Consultant – GI, Minimal Access and Bariatric Surgery, Fortis Escorts Hospital Amritsar said,
“This was an extremely complex hernia case that developed following multiple abdominal surgeries, resulting in a massive and complicated abdominal wall defect. The hernia had caused a large portion of his abdominal organs to protrude through the weakened abdominal wall, leaving him unable to stand or walk comfortably and causing severe breathing difficulties. The surgery involved highly skilled dissection and reconstruction of the abdominal wall muscles while carefully preserving the nerve supply to maintain function and avoid further weakening of the abdominal wall. The surgery lasted for approximately 3.5 hours, and the patient is doing well, with no recurrence of abdominal bulging and is able to eat comfortably, walk properly leading to a significantly improved quality of life. If the condition had not been treated in time, the thin layer of skin covering over the abdominal organs could eventually have ruptured, leading to extrusion of intestines outside the body, a life-threatening emergency with high risk of infection and severe complications.”.
Mr Yogesh Joshi, Facility Director, Fortis Escorts Hospital, Amritsar said,
“The successful outcome highlights the advanced surgical expertise and complex abdominal wall reconstruction capabilities available at Fortis Escorts Amritsar, offering hope to patients with highly complicated abdominal conditions previously considered inoperable.”
