Standing at 1.6m tall and weighing 70kg, 43-year-old Ms. A. from Quang Ninh had always been self-conscious about her appearance and would try virtually any weight loss method recommended to her.
Enticed by glowing online advertisements, Ms. A. spent 1 million VND to purchase two bottles of pink Baschi weight loss pills, which were advertised as 100% natural herbs originating from Thailand.
According to the instructions, she took two pills every evening with warm lemon water before bedtime. As a result, she lost 3kg after one month. However, before she could even celebrate her weight loss matching the consultant's guarantee, Ms. A. suddenly developed nausea and vomited fresh and dark blood.
Believing she had caught a cold, her family rushed her to a nearby medical center for emergency care. There, she was diagnosed with suspected gastritis, colitis, enteritis, and esophageal candidiasis.
After six days of treatment, Ms. A.'s condition did not improve; instead, she developed metabolic acidosis, trismus (lockjaw), and oral ulceration.
The patient was transferred to the Poison Control Center at Bach Mai Hospital in a weak state, unable to eat or drink, and requiring parenteral nutrition.
Endoscopic and X-ray imaging revealed complete stenosis of both the stomach and esophagus, attributed to chemical injury. Doctors at the Gastroenterology and Hepatology Center indicated esophageal dilation, but the stricture was too extensive to perform the procedure safely, carrying an extremely high risk of esophageal perforation.
The patient continued to receive nutritional support, but her physical condition deteriorated progressively until she weighed only 35kg.
Following an interdepartmental consultation on April 6, the physicians decided to perform a total gastrectomy and esophagectomy, followed by gastrointestinal reconstruction using the right colon. The surgery lasted five hours.
Postoperatively, the patient received intensive care in the Intensive Care Unit. On April 29, she recovered well, gained 5kg, was able to resume oral feeding, and was discharged from the hospital.
Ms. A. recovering after three months of treatment
Typically, patients with esophageal cancer undergo an esophagectomy followed by gastric pull-up reconstruction. However, this case required the simultaneous removal of both organs, presenting significant challenges to the surgical team.
Dr. Tran Manh Hung, Head of the Department of General Surgery, stated that cases of total gastrointestinal atrophy and stricture caused by chemicals are extremely rare, and historically associated with very high morbidity and mortality rates.
Currently, with medical advancements and close multidisciplinary collaboration, such exceptional patients now have the opportunity for gastrointestinal reconstruction, enabling them to resume oral feeding and normal daily activities.
Doctors also advise that weight loss is a gradual process. To ensure safety, individuals should seek examination and consultation at nutrition centers to establish an appropriate diet and exercise regimen for safe and effective weight management.
Thuy Hanh
Source: https://tintucvietnam365.net/uong-thuoc-giam-can-mot-phu-nu-phai-cat-bo-toan-bo-thuc-quan-va-da-day/