3 Kilogram Fibroid Masses, removed from 50-year-old Expat Woman

Dubai – May 30, 2023: A group of experts in Medcare Women & Children Hospital extracted three kilograms of large fibroids from the uterus and liver of an Indian woman through an unusual combination of surgical procedures, giving back her quality of life. Ms. Jayanthy, aged 50 year, suffered from extreme uterine fibroids that caused her unbearable pain, and could have become a thereat to her life if left untreated.

 

Prior to visiting Dr. Shiva Harikrishnan, a leading obstetrics and gynaecology consultant at Medcare Women & Children Hospital in Dubai, the patient faced a combination of serious symptoms like pain, tiredness and dizziness caused by secondary anaemia due to heavy bleeding.

 

Commenting on the diagnosis, Dr. Harikrishnan said, “The patient had initially come in due to her gynaecological issues. She was presenting an abdominal size approximately equivalent to an eight-month pregnancy. When we did the scan, we finally saw the extent of how big the fibroids were and realized that they needed to be removed. Although extremely common, especially amongst women in their 40s and 50s, fibroids are often not discussed due to the lack of attention and information. Even though fibroids are non-cancerous, they can have severe effects on women and are one of the leading causes of hysterectomies (removal of the womb).”

 Uterine fibroids are benign tumors that grow in the uterus and are common among women of reproductive age. Following multiple scans, Dr. Harikrishnan discovered that the patient had multiple large fibroids in her uterus, which required a rare combination of surgical methods - laparoscopy and mini-laparotomy. 

 

“Although surgical removal of huge fibroid may be challenging, this one was quite unique. We decided to go as first option by laparoscopy but due to the lack of space and size of fibroids we had proceeded with a mini-laparotomy small incision of 4-5cm in the tummy to remove the fibroids”, she added.

Dr. Harikrishnan and a general surgeon college began removing the fibroids in the patient’s body using a mini-laparotomy. They made a small incision at the abdomen to remove multiple large fibroids with the largest covering an area of 20 by 20 centimetres. However, before the surgery could be completed, it was discovered that the patient was carrying another large fibroid near her liver. 

 

Dr. Harikrishnan said, “The discovery of the fibroid near the liver prompted me to stop the mini-laparotomy and close up the abdomen and again inflate the abdomen with gas to do a laparoscopy again. The other option to remove the fibroid near the liver, needed a large vertical cut about 15-20cm in the abdomen, which would have led to a delayed recovery for the patient. Therefore, we opted to perform a combination of two surgical approaches (laparoscopy and mini laparotomy), to remove all the fibroids including the fibroid near the liver.”

 

The surgery was successfully completed and over three kilograms of fibroids were removed from the patient’s body, which is considered an abnormally large amount. However, the period following the operation was largely uneventful and the patient was on her way to making a full recovery.

Commenting on the experience, Ms. Jayanthy said, “I am thankful for Dr. Harikrishnan’s expertise and compassion, which has helped me finally overcome this illness. After being in pain for a long time, I am glad to say that I can now live my life normally again without any discomfort.” 

 

Dr. Harikrishnan further stated, “Cases such as this highlight the importance of women’s healthcare. Women have unique health needs that require specialized attention, and neglecting these needs can lead to long-term health consequences including preventable deaths, disabilities, and reduced quality of life. Routine screenings, preventive care, and early detection of health issues are crucial in ensuring that women receive the care they need and deserve.”

Ms. Jayanthy has made a complete recovery since her operation and is currently back to feeling normal.