The team of surgeons, led by Doctor of Medical Sciences Rasul Sultangaziev and head of the transplant department at NCMD Mirbek Baizakov, successfully performed surgery on the duodenum of five-year-old Ailin. The doctors worked for more than four hours to save the girl's life.
According to Mirbek Baizakov, who has extensive experience in pediatric surgery, this is the first case in his 20 years of practice where he encountered such a large tumor in a child. "This is indeed a rare and serious pathology that requires radical surgical intervention," he noted in a conversation with VB.KG. To successfully carry out the operation, the assistance of a more experienced colleague was necessary, and Rasul Abalievich did not disappoint, participating in this complex case.
Ailin's mother was informed that the tumor manifested itself as jaundice, leading to a diagnosis of "infectious hepatitis" at the Talas District Hospital. However, after ineffective treatment and an ultrasound, local doctors identified problems with the bile ducts and referred the girl to Bishkek for further examination.
Upon arrival at NCMD, Ailin was diagnosed with mechanical jaundice. After a thorough examination, it was revealed that the girl also had stomach issues, complicating the situation. An MRI showed that the tumor in the duodenum significantly disrupted the functioning of internal organs, raising serious concerns among the medical staff.
The specialists suggested that the tumor could not have been congenital, as it manifested relatively late. They also doubted the oncological nature of the neoplasm, believing it could be a scar formation that needed to be removed to restore normal intestinal and bile duct function.
"We discussed all the details of the upcoming surgery with Ailin's parents, explaining the possible risks and complications," said Mirbek Tursunbekovich, heading to the patient's room. "The operation took place ten days ago, and now that everything is behind us, we can share the news. The girl feels well, the jaundice has disappeared, and she has started eating normally," the surgeon added.
Rasul Sultangaziev confirmed that the case is indeed unique. They held a council before the operation, but the situation turned out to be much more complicated than expected. The tumor, which affected the head of the pancreas and the bile ducts, significantly enlarged the girl's stomach, leading to vomiting due to the narrowing of the outlet section.
The surgeons employed proven techniques to remove the tumor and reconstruct the organs, which in turn required performing three surgeries at once. They removed the tumor and part of the stomach, and then restored the patency of the bile ducts by connecting them to the stomach to ensure normal bile flow.
Closing the duodenal stump and separating the tumor from the pancreas became the most challenging part of the operation, as they were in close contact. Sultangaziev noted that surgeons always experience doubts, but this does not mean a lack of confidence in their abilities.
"The success of the operation depends both on the professionalism of the team and the experience of the surgeon," he emphasized. At NCMD, Mirbek Baizakov and his colleagues have performed over 70 successful kidney transplants in children, and Rasul Sultangaziev has saved many lives of those who had no chances in other clinics.
Now the doctors are awaiting the results of the immunohistochemical study of the removed tumor to understand its nature, as local specialists could not accurately determine whether it was malignant or benign.
"The lymph nodes are clean, and no cancer cells have been found. We hope that the removed tumor was also benign," the doctor added. "For now, we are monitoring the girl's condition, and there are no deviations."
Ailin's mother expressed hope that her daughter would become a doctor in the future, although she certainly leaves the final choice to her: "I have realized that being a true doctor is a calling. A huge thank you to the real surgeons for saving my daughter!"
