First Gastrointestinal Bleeding Embolisation in Manipur by Shija Hospitals

Imphal, May 16: A landmark breakthrough in the history of medical science of Manipur was achieved when an acutely severe bleeding from the gastrointestinal tract was treated by using a non-operative procedure, known as gastrointestinal bleeding embolisation.
This ultra modern pioneering treatment was performed successfully for the first time in Manipur by Dr. Thangjam Gautam Singh, Consultant Interventional Radiologist in two patients when conventional treatment was not possible.
Due to excessive bleeding, both the patients were not fit for endoscopic as well as open surgeries, as their hemoglobin levels were below normal levels. The bleeding arteries in both the patients were embolised (occluded or blocked) under the guidance of a DSA Cathlab machine without open surgery. The patients were fully conscious and oriented during the procedure as it was done using a pin hole entry into the artery under local anaesthesia. Subsequently conditions of both the patients improved without any complication (normal haemoglobin) and were discharged after few days.
Interventional radiology is an independent specialty of radiology utilizing minimally invasive image guided procedures to diagnose and treat diseases in nearly every organ system without open surgery. This life saving procedure has the advantages of faster recovery, immediate cessation of the bleeding, painless, no scars and can be done on high risk patients on whom open surgery is not feasible.