At 209 kg, he couldn’t breathe: How AIIMS team made patient fit for bariatric surgery and drop 50 kg

Vivek Saxena, a 32-year-old man, endured a life-altering journey from 209 kg to nearly 160 kg, enabling him to breathe and participate in activities previously deemed impossible. Born in 1990, he was diagnosed with depression at age 19, which led to weight gain and a series of health issues, including hypertension, prediabetes, high cholesterol, acid reflux, severe sleep apnoea, and knee pain. Upon arriving at AIIMS Delhi, Vivek's BMI was 74 kg, and he was deemed inoperable due to his severe health conditions.

The multidisciplinary AIIMS team devised a meticulous pre-surgery protocol, which included stabilising his breathing, managing his infection, reducing his body size for safe surgery, and waiting for a stable respiratory window. Vivek underwent a very-low-calorie diet, losing 37 kg in 32 days, and his abdominal circumference decreased from 198 cm to 178 cm.

On July 24, he successfully underwent bariatric surgery, overcoming challenges with airway stabilisation and respiration. By August 6, he weighed 160 kg, a notable 50 kg reduction from his initial arrival at AIIMS.

Dr. Manjunath Maruti Pol, a professor of surgery at AIIMS Delhi, highlighted this case as a "multidisciplinary rescue strategy" that transformed an almost inoperable patient into a suitable candidate for surgery. This case underscores that obesity is not merely excess weight but an increased risk, emphasizing the importance of tailored treatment strategies and multidisciplinary approaches.

India currently performs only around 20,000 bariatric procedures annually, despite nearly 250 million individuals suffering from generalised obesity. This statistic highlights the need for greater awareness and access to such treatments.