New technique at Lilavati

MUMBAI, July 25: Lilavati Hospital at Bandra has introduced a minimally invasive procedure — the Balloon Thermal Ablation technique — for patients suffering from excessive uteral bleeding. So far, the painful hysterectomy was the only treatment available for the problem. With about 22 per cent of Indian women suffering from the condition, it accounts for more than one-third of hysterectomies.

While the hysterectomy is associated with physical and psychological side-effects, the Balloon Thermal Ablation technique permits patients to leave hospital a few hours after surgery. They are also able to resume normal activities the next day itself. Those who have been treated by the new technique say it is painless.

The procedure uses heat to remove the endomaterial lining of the uterus. A balloon catheter is introduced into the uterus and the balloon is inflated with a sterile fluid and heated to 87 degrees Celsius for about eight minutes. The 15-minute procedure is being used at Lilavati by Dr Rakesh Sinha, aconsulting gynaecological endoscopic and laser surgeon.