Bhubaneswar: In a remarkable medical success story, doctors at Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS) have helped a 62-year-old businessman from Odisha’s Jajpur district regain his mobility after he spent nearly a decade confined to bed due to severe lymphoedema.
Prashanta Kumar Mohanty, who once led an active life managing his business, had been left immobile following complications from cancer treatment he received almost 15 years ago. After undergoing treatment for Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, he developed extreme lymphoedema in his left leg, which swelled to an enormous size, comparable to an elephant’s leg. The condition, caused by damage to the lymphatic system during cancer therapy, led to massive fluid buildup and rendered him bedridden for about 10 years. “I couldn’t even walk to the bathroom. My family took me to several hospitals, but everywhere I was turned away with no hope of treatment,” Mohanty recalled.
He was then advised to consult Dr Sunil Rout, Head of the Depart
ment of Plastic Surgery at KIMS. “Dr Rout told me he would try his best to improve my situation and bring me back to walking condition. My treatment continued for about four months. I never lost faith,” Mohanty said.
Dr Rout and his team carried out a series of challenging procedures. More than 40 kg of excess tissue and accumulated lymphatic fluid were removed from the affected leg in three complex surgeries. “The lymph nodes were affected during lymphoma treatment, leading to lymphoedema,” he said, adding that the swelling was so severe that the patient’s leg barely fit on the operating table.
The procedures posed significant risks, requiring meticulous management of the patient’s hemodynamics by both the surgical and anaesthesia teams. Assistant Professor in the Department of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery Dr Jayanta Lenka, assisted Dr Rout throughout the treatment. The anaesthesia team was led by Dr Lingraj Sahu.
“It was an extremely challenging case, but with the advanced facilities available at KIMS, we were able to successfully treat the patient,” said Dr. Rout, while expressing gratitude to Dr. Achyuta Samanta, Founder of KIMS, for establishing world-class healthcare infrastructure at the institute.
“After 10 years of being unable to walk and staying in bed, I am now completely cured and have resumed my business,” Mohanty added with evident joy and relief.