Patna: A team of doctors at AIIMS Patna has achieved a major medical milestone by successfully performing a splenectomy — the surgical removal of the spleen — on a six-year-old boy suffering from Gaucher’s disease. The child, who weighed only 18 kilograms, had an enlarged spleen weighing 3.1 kilograms and measuring 30 by 20 centimetres. According to the hospital, this is the largest spleen ever removed from a child of this age in India.
The complex operation was carried out by the Paediatric Surgery Department under the leadership of Dr Amit Kumar and Dr Amit Kumar Sinha. They were assisted by a dedicated team of experts, including surgeons Dr Rashi, Dr Digamber, Dr Gaurav, and Dr Saurav. The anaesthesia team was led by Dr Neeraj Kumar, while Dr Pratap Patra, a paediatrician, provided crucial medical support before and after the procedure. Together, the team ensured that the surgery went smoothly without complications.
The boy had been suffering from progressive abdominal swelling and frequent infections for several months. Doctors diagnosed him with Gaucher’s disease, a rare genetic condition caused by a deficiency of an enzyme called glucocerebrosidase. This deficiency leads to the buildup of fatty substances in organs such as the spleen and liver, causing them to enlarge and affect the patient’s overall health. In this case, the spleen had grown to a size that posed serious health risks, making surgery the only option.
Despite the challenges of operating on such a young patient with a massive organ, the surgical team at AIIMS Patna completed the procedure successfully. The child’s recovery was smooth, and he was discharged from the hospital in stable condition. Doctors said that the successful surgery highlights the growing expertise and advanced capabilities of AIIMS Patna in handling complex paediatric cases. They also expressed hope that this achievement would inspire confidence among families seeking high-quality medical care within Bihar.
