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99-yr-old emerges winner in battle with cancer
July 30, 2009 | Times of India |
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Nonagenarian Nilakanth Dattatray Shirgaonkar has become the oldest man in the city and perhaps the oldest in the country to undergo colectomy - a surgical procedure to remove cancerous part of the colon (large intestine).
Shirgaonkar (99) successfully underwent the colon cancer surgery at Sahyadri Hospital on Karve Road last month. Leading gastroenterologists confirm the case as 'extremely rare' and 'first in country', as the last reported case of the oldest person who underwent such a surgery was 88 years old.
"After discussing with the patient and relatives about the risks involved, 99 years old Shirgaonkar's left hemicolectomy (left colon resection or removal) with end-to-end anastomosis (surgically connecting tubular structures) was performed on May 5," surgeon Sanjay Kolte told TOI on Thursday. Kolte performed the surgery along with surgeon Jaysingh Shinde. "This is not only the first case in India but perhaps in the world as we have checked the world medical literature to confirm this," added Kolte.
Shirgaonkar was suffering from loose motions since one month and weight loss since over six months and hence was admitted at Sahyadri Speciality Hospital on Karve Road, said physician Suhas Sathe, who attended him at the initial phase of the treatment.
Sathe referred Shirgaonkar to Kolte, who decided to carry out colonoscopy on Shirgaonkar. "The colonoscopy revealed a cancerous growth in descending colon," said Kolte. Shirgaonkar's medical condition and old age did not permit risk-free anaesthesia. "Yet in view of impending obstruction, risk was taken of anaesthesia and surgery," said Kolte.
"Postoperatively his lung condition was critical but was managed very well by the ICU team of Sahyadri Hospital. He was discharged in good health and now leading a normal life," said Kolte.
When inquired about his health, the nonagenarian, who is also an amateur stage actor and won a state award for his acting prowess in 1954, said "I am hale and hearty now. I get up at 6 am every day and take small meals comprising chapattis in the lunch and bhakari (jawar roti) in dinner and go to sleep at 10 pm. I want other fellow citizens to look at the life positively as life is beautiful at all stages of life."
Doctors who assisted Kolte in the critical operation were resident doctors Dimple Thakkar, Ramesh Yadav and anaesthetist Sarala Sohandani. |
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