Doctors conduct record-breaking weight-loss surgery

Local doctors conducted weight-loss surgery on a woman weighing 195 kilograms, the record for a patient with the highest BMI for such surgery in the city.

The 30-year-old patient from Tianjin has a BMI as high as 78, while a healthy BMI is 18.5 to 23.9.

Doctors from Shanghai No. 6 People’s Hospital decided to carry out laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy, a popular obesity reduction surgery through removing most of the stomach. The biggest challenge for the surgery is anesthesia, doctors said.

According to Dr Jiang Wei, director of the hospital’s anesthesia department, said anesthesia is very difficult for patients with serious obesity, as there is high possibility for complications like anoxia and suffocation during surgery. Moreover, the patient’s lung function is also very poor.

Doctors designed an anesthesia method, which conducted anesthesia under the guidance of ultrasound to ensure a precise, quick and safe practice.

The surgery conducted on Wednesday was successful. Doctors said the patient is recovering well and has been transferred to ordinary ward for further rehabilitation and treatment.