Mumbai doctors create record by operating on woman nursing 115 fibroids in womb

In a record-breaking case, city gynaecologists have operated on a 29-year-old woman from Govandi who struggled to conceive a child for several years, unaware that she was nursing a whopping 115 fibroids in her uterus. The doctors successfully removed the uterine tumours, beating the previous Indian record of 108 fibroids.

The fibroids removed from Reshma's uterus

Reshma (name changed to protect the patient's identity) had been trying to conceive for the last five-and-a-half years, unsuccessfully, before approaching doctors at DY Patil University of Medicine in Nerul. Apart from fertility issues, she also complained of heavy blood flow, resulting in anaemia.

Dr Biswanath Ghosh Dastidar and Dr Y S Nandanwar

Dr Biswanath Ghosh Dastidar, resident gynaecologist, said, "The patient was pale due to very low haemoglobin count of just 7 gm/dl. She had to be administered blood. Test reports revealed that she had multiple fibroids; hence, we decided to operate."

Dr Y S Nandanwar, professor and head of the department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, said, "This is a rarest of rare case; as per Indian textbooks, the most number of fibroids ever removed from a patient was 108. In this case, there were 115, ranging from 2 mm to 10 cm in length - this is record-breaking."

The doctors explained that due to the sheer numbers in which tumours were present in the uterus, they opted for an open myomectomy instead of a laparoscopic procedure. "Reshma was not able to conceive due to the fibroids, and had she not been operated on, her health would have deteriorated. We have preserved her uterus and fallopian tubes. Post recovery, we are confident that she will be able to conceive," added the senior doctor.

Patient is relieved
Speaking from her hospital bed, Reshma told mid-day, "For the last few years, I had been trying all sorts of alternative treatments. Some hakim told me I would be healed with his medicine and would not require surgery, but now I realise I was abusing my health for no reason. I spent Rs 2.5 lakh on such pointless treatments. My advice to others is to consult the right professionals and not opt for self-medication."

Reshma has so far paid Rs 20,000 for the surgery and treatment. She is now keen to get back on her feet and open a beauty salon to add to her husband's monthly income of Rs 5,500 as a driver.

"I am much better now, with no more pain in my abdomen. Earlier, my stomach would get bloated, but I no longer suffer from this issue. I am very thankful to the team of surgeons who operated on me. They showed me the fibroids, and I could not believe that this was the main reason why IâÂu00c2u0080Âu00c2u0088was not able to conceive," she added.

108
Previous Indian record for number of fibroids removed

186
Maximum number of fibroids removed in one operation (Egypt)