Rare surgery undertaken to reduce tongue length

Kochi, Feb 3 (UNI) Suresh Babu (44) could not ask for more when the length of his tongue was reduced through rare surgery at a hospital here.

Mr Babu's tongue measured 13.5 cm in length and 12 cm in breadth due to a congenital condition of hemnagioma due to which there was abnormal growth of blood vessels.

Maxillofacial Surgeon Paul V Joseph and ENT Surgeon Vinod B Nair, who headed the team of surgeon, said due to abnormal growth of blood vessels, there was an enlargemnt of the tongue and lips causing hardship to Mr Babu in speaking and having food.

The abnormal vessels were also found in the patient's throat and neck.

Dr Joseph said the surgery was a great challenge with the abnormal condition of the patient as even a small incision could lead to uncontrollable bleeding.

He said the nature of the growth and the blood supply were extensively studied through the 64 slice CT scan facility.

At the time of surgery, the blood in the tongue was squeezed into the patient's body and a clamp used to arrest the fresh flow of blood into the organ.

Dr Joseph said the unique surgery, lasting five-and-a-half hours, was undertaken with ' harmonic scalpel', an advanced instrument in surgical practice, which coagulated blood vessels using ultrasonic high frequency vibration.

After the surgery, Mr Babu, who is a labourer, had to undergo physiotherapy for almost two months to strengthen the lips and tongue.

A visibly happy Mr Babu said, ''I got a new lease of life as I can face the society with confidence.'' Mr Babu, who is a bachelor, said the abnormality was noticed at the age of 15 and caused lot of hardship.

Dr Joseph said after the surgery, the tongue was reduced to the normal size of two to three cms.

The doctors said before the surgery Mr Babu had arguably the longest tongue in the world as according to the lastest edition of the Guinness Book of World Records the record for the longest tongue goes to Stephen Taylor of the UK at 9.4 cm.

UNI