Cancer patient survives complete gastrectomy despite poor nutritional status
The weight loss was considerable and the vomiting increased steadily, even after small meals. Months went by. Finally, his children brought the Quechua man from southern Peru to the Diospi Suyana Hospital. A gastroscopy revealed a large tumor that almost completely blocked the stomach outlet. Surgeon Dr. Lukas Steffen now had to decide between two options.
Option 1: He could have sent the patient home to die. Perhaps the man would have had two or three weeks left to live.
Option 2: Radical surgery with all the risks of serious complications.
It was a long operation in the operating theater. After two days in the intensive care unit, the patient was transferred to the normal ward. Despite his poor initial situation, his recovery was picture-perfect. He was discharged home on Wednesday – without any pain or discomfort when eating. His chyme slides from the oesophagus directly into a loop of small intestine.
We congratulate the whole team who ensured this good outcome during the operation. And we thank God for the excellent result. Only He knows how much time the Quechua man will have left to live. Incidentally, the missionary hospital covered a large part of his bill /KDJ
(Caption above: From left to right: Dr. Benjamin Zeier, Dr. Alexander Villanueva from the University of Cayetano and Dr. Lukas Steffen)
