12-07-2025
After delay in US, dentist travels to Pune for surgery to fix stuck anti-reflux device
Jeffrey Lyle Mason, a US based dentist who had been experiencing sleep disturbances was sure the issue was related to some stomach ailment. He underwent a procedure to prevent the stomach acid from flowing backward but did not get much relief. It seemed like forever to get a revision surgery in the United States and the dentist decided to research medical tourism.
According to Dr Mason, the procedure in the US did not provide relief and the magnetic device had slipped into the chest and was closely stuck to the oesophagus. Removing it without any injury to the vital structures and nerves of the stomach was crucial to preserve the anti-reflux functioning.
However the revision surgery — a fundoplication, a surgical procedure used to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) was taking a while. 'I hopped on Deepseek that guided me about Mexico, Costa Rica and India,' Dr Mason recalled and further research on some of the best surgeons in India led him to Pune.
He told The Indian Express that his search led him to Pune's Dr Shashank Shah and team and he soon got an appointment for a surgery. 'A few days before I was set to fly to India, I started having severe pain in the abdomen area and was grateful to have got the appointment as I needed that surgery,' Dr Mason said. The revision surgery went off well and Dr Mason said that he was grateful for the vital communication from Dr Shah's team. 'They were very accommodating,' he added.
When contacted, Dr Shashank Shah, noted laparoscopic bariatric surgeon said that Dr Mason had been operated upon at Las Vegas last year. 'He was operated with a magnetic anti-reflux device. Unfortunately, the device slipped into his chest leading to discomfort and hence decided to connect with gastrointestinal surgeons across the world. He did his own research and we are happy that Dr Mason selected Pune. The surgery was undertaken on May 16 this year. The magnetic device was removed and the hiatus hernia operated upon.. He recovered well and returned on May 20 to the United States,' Dr Shah said.
At the LaparoObeso centre in Pune that performs complex and advanced surgeries, Dr Shah said that they had seen almost one patient every month from countries like Malaysia, Dubai, Australia, Abu Dhabi, UK and others. 'Medical tourism is on the rise post Covid -19 and at our centre patients have been largely seeking treatment for complex hernia and bariatric surgeries,' Dr Shah added.
