For the first time in Chhattisgarh, a myasthenia gravis patient, a 17-year-old boy, has been treated using plasmapheresis technique (plasma exchange).

The teenager remained on ventilator for 42 days after operation, Dr Krishna Kant Sahu, Head of Department, Heart, Chest and Vascular Surgery, related to Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar Medical College Hospital, the biggest in the state, said on Monday.

Addressing the media, Dr Sahu said the Class 10 student, Mukesh Patel, a resident of Gudhiyari in Raipur, had reported weakness 10 months earlier. He was facing problems opening his eyes, breathing, problems in walking and complications even to consume food.

He was referred to the Medicine department of the Medical College Hospital where Dr R.K. Patel after CT-scan detected tumour in the thymus gland. The boy was then referred to Advance Cardiac Institute for surgery, said Dr Sahu.

During operation it was detected the tumour was stuck between aorta and pulmonary artery and blood vessels of lungs. A tumour of 12x10x6 cm weighing 800 grams was removed.

As the boy was unable to carry out even basic work of breathing, he was put on a ventilator. As his condition was critical, for the first time in Chhattisgarh the plasmapheresis technique was used to save his life.

Around five rounds were conducted, by shifting the patient to Dau Kalyan Singh Post Graduate Institute and Research Centre, Raipur.

Assistance from neurologists were taken for recovery for normal functioning.

As the technique involved high cost, coverage of Dr Khoobchand Baghel Health Assistance Scheme was given, thus providing free of cost treatment and medical care.

Dr Sahu said it was due to the team effort from different faculty of hospital that the life of the boy could be saved. Now, he is ready to be discharged.