Bangalore, 17 December 19: 29-year old Sudanese national Ekua (name changed) recently heaved a sigh of relief as a two year old fibroid tumor which was the size of three footballs placed together and weighed 16 kgs was surgically removed from her body at Aster CMI Hospital. This was her second surgery to remove fibroids; Ekua had previously already undergone a surgery to remove two fibroids from her uterus in 2015, in Germany.
Hailing from a remote area of Sudan, Ekua had been facing uterine issues for a while. She had earlier lost a baby due to placental abruption (bleeding which causes detachment of the placenta in the uterus) and the experience had left her shaken. The young woman was afraid that surgery would impact her ability to conceive in the future and avoided medical counsel until the tumor had grown to a dangerous size. The tumor was pushing up against her organs, leading to breathing issues and also severely affecting her balance. When she visited Aster CMI, she was unable to walk properly.
According to a press statement, the massive size of the tumor had also led to the formation of a large clot in the inferior vena cava, a major vein leading to the heart, making surgery tricky. Operating on the tumor was risky because dislodging of the clot during surgery could lead to a pulmonary embolism. Having visited a few doctors but being turned away due to the risky nature of the surgery, she was starting to lose hope.
Upon careful evaluation of her condition, a team of doctors including a gynecologist, surgeon, cardiac surgeon, urologist and anesthetist was put together to operate on her at Aster CMI. The tumor was successfully extracted from the woman’s body in a 5-hour long surgery.
“It is very rare to see a fibroid tumor that has grown to such a big size. It is not uncommon to see a higher incidence of fibroids in women of African descent; however Ekua’s case is one in a million. The tumor had grown so big that conducting a hysterectomy was crucial to save her life. Surgery was a challenge and she sustained a bladder and ureteric injury on the table along with a massive hemorrhage but both conditions were managed using cell saver techniques. She is now stable and has recovered completely from the surgery,” said Dr. Sowmya Lakshmi T V, Consultant, Obstetrics & Gynecology, Aster CMI Hospital.
“Post-surgery, chances of recurrence in Ekua are almost nil. The clot near her heart has also started to disintegrate since the pressure from the tumor is gone. Ekua is able to do her daily activities with ease now, without fear of any future recurrence of the tumor. She has returned to Sudan smiling and 16 kgs lighter” an official press statement from the hospital added.
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South African police arrest suspect in mass shooting that killed 12, including 3 children
Johannesburg (AP): A 32-year-old suspect has been arrested in connection with a mass shooting which claimed the lives of 12 people including three children at an unlicensed pub earlier this month, South African police said on Monday.
The man is suspected of being one of the three people who opened fire on patrons in a pub at Saulsville township, west of South Africa's capital Pretoria, killing 12 people including three children aged 3, 12 and 16.
At least 13 people were also injured during the attack, whose motive remains unknown.
According to the police, the suspect was arrested on Sunday while traveling to Botlokwa in Limpopo province, more than 340 km from where the mass shooting took place on Dec 6.
An unlicensed firearm believed to have been used during the attack was recovered from the suspect's vehicle.
“The 32-year-old suspect was intercepted by Limpopo Tracking Team on the R101 Road in Westenburg precinct. During the arrest, the team recovered an unlicensed firearm, a hand gun, believed to have been used in the commission of the multiple murders. The firearm will be taken to the Forensic Science Laboratory for ballistic analysis,” police said in statement.
The suspect was arrested on the same day that another mass shooting at a pub took place in the Bekkersdal township, west of Johannesburg, in which nine people were killed and 10 wounded when unknown gunmen opened fire on patrons.
Police have since launched a search for the suspects.
South Africa has one of the highest homicide rates in the world and recorded more than 26,000 homicides in 2024 — an average of more than 70 a day. Firearms are by far the leading cause of death in homicides.
The country of 62 million people has relatively strict gun ownership laws, but many killings are committed with illegal guns, according to authorities.
According to police, mass shootings at unlicensed bars are becoming a serious problem. Police shut down more than 11,000 illegal taverns between April and September this year and arrested more than 18,000 people for involvement in illegal liquor sales.
