JAIPUR: For some mucormycosis patients, their battle for life is likely to be prolonged as they might need revision surgeries due to reccurrence of black fungus.
The reason for it is that despite doctors removing the fungus from the affected part, there are chances that mucormycosis might penetrate the blood vessels and increase chances of reccurrence. Also in some cases, due to conservation approach to save an eye from being removed, mucromycosis may recur requiring revision surgeries.
According to Sawai Man Singh Hospital, at least 10% of the mucromycosis patients require revision surgeries. Out of more than 400 surgeries conducted on mucormycosis patients, 40 have undergone revision surgeries.
“Mucormycosis infections are characterised by extensive angioinvasion. The fungus enters blood vessels by penetrating it. Doctors scoop out the visible fungus from the infected parts, but in case of angioinvasion, the fungus might recur and require revision surgery,” said Dr Sudhir Bhandari, principal and controller, SMS Medical College.
The SMS Medical College has formed a board of 16 doctors of different specialties for mucormycosis. The board is helping patients in treatment. Dr Pawan Singhal, professor (ENT) SMS Hospital, who is one of the doctors performing surgeries for removing mucormycosis said, “We have been reporting cases of recurrence of mucormycosis in some cases due to certain reasons. Inadequate treatment with antifungal drugs followed by surgery may also help the mucormycosis to recur. The patients with decreased immunity, uncontrolled diabetes and thromboembolic phenomenon are risk factors of recurrence of mucormycosis.”
SMS Medical College is also conducting a study to find out the actual cause of mucormycosis in Covid patients. Since the second wave was more aggressive, a rise in thromboembolism phenomenon and blood clots were witnessed in Covid patients, the SMS Hospital’s research board suspects. In collaboration with pathology department, the board will conduct tissue biopsy of the mucormycosis patients to find if blood clots due to Delta variant is causing mucormycosis. The result of the study is awaited.
