Medical science is advancing every day and has helped in increasing the lifespan of patients by many years. Recently, in a milestone achievement, a team led by Dr Megraj Ingle, Director and Senior Consultant of Gastroenterology, has successfully treated a 61-year-old man suffering from a rare and complex swallowing disorder, Achalasia. The patient, who had been struggling with severe difficulty swallowing for two years, found relief through an innovative treatment approach. This successful treatment not only brought immense relief to the patient but also improved his overall health.

Two years ago, patient Mr Suhas R. Mungaker, a resident of Mumbai experienced hiccups while eating which he initially dismissed as something everyone goes through. As time passed, he started to feel a sensation of gagging and the impression that food was getting stuck in his throat. To alleviate this, he would drink water and then attempt to eat again after a brief pause. Eventually, these issues seemed to subside for a while. However, he later began to have heartburn following meals, particularly during the summer months. He started taking antacids and other medications to manage the discomfort. His wife consulted with the family doctor about his ongoing issues with antacids, prompting him to recommend consulting Dr Megraj Ingle for further evaluation.

Dr Megraj Ingle, Director and Senior Consultant of Gastroenterology said, “On arrival, the patient was having difficulty eating food and weight loss as well as having chest pain. There was the presence of a rare condition known as Achalasia (wherein the oesophagus is unable to move food and liquids down into the stomach). The endoscopy revealed that there were three or four blockages in his oesophagus. There was a narrowing of the oesophagus close to the stomach. Every time he ate, the food would get lodged in his throat, and even drinking water afterwards wouldn’t help as it would also get stuck. He often ended up vomiting the food back up. The endoscopy revealed a structure resembling a bird's beak. It is an uncommon condition due to the inability of the lower oesophagus sphincter to relax. This condition is quite uncommon, affecting only one in a million. We see almost 10-20 yearly and no surgery was recommended."

Dr Ingle added, “When the barium swallow was done, it showed few hold-ups, and the muscle in his oesophagus grew big and was holding his food and the oesophagus has got narrowed near the stomach. It is a procedure in which via endoscope a tunnel is created between layers of the oesophagus wall and the lower oesophagus muscle is cut. It’s a minimally invasive procedure. Recovery is fast, the day the patient got discharged he was swallowing food properly."

“It was petrifying for me when two years ago, I would get hiccups during meals, which I dismissed without any action. It became extremely difficult for me to eat as I was diagnosed with a rare swallowing disorder which was unknown to me. However, I am forever indebted to Dr Megraj Ingle and his team for timely intervention. I can eat my favourite food without any difficulty now.” said the patient.

Dr Bipin Chevale, CEO, Gleneagles Hospital, Parel, Mumbai said, "Our state-of-the-art equipment, along with our expert medical team, ensures that patients receive the most innovative and effective treatments available for such complex conditions."

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