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Medics remove football-sized cyst Medics remove football-sized cyst
(about 5 hours later)
A Perthshire teenager can enjoy food again after having a football-sized cyst removed in a pioneering operation.A Perthshire teenager can enjoy food again after having a football-sized cyst removed in a pioneering operation.
Nadine Cousins, 19, from Blairgowrie, used to eat only small amounts, rarely felt hungry and would tire easily.Nadine Cousins, 19, from Blairgowrie, used to eat only small amounts, rarely felt hungry and would tire easily.
She did not realise something was seriously wrong until she experienced several episodes of severe vomiting and extreme pains down her right side.She did not realise something was seriously wrong until she experienced several episodes of severe vomiting and extreme pains down her right side.
Surgeons at Ninewells Hospital used keyhole surgery to remove part of Ms Cousins' spleen to cure the problem.Surgeons at Ninewells Hospital used keyhole surgery to remove part of Ms Cousins' spleen to cure the problem.
Ms Cousins was 16 years old when she started to have problems eating large amounts of food.Ms Cousins was 16 years old when she started to have problems eating large amounts of food.
Her parents Anthony and Helene were worried but thought she was just being a typical teenager who was obsessed about her weight.Her parents Anthony and Helene were worried but thought she was just being a typical teenager who was obsessed about her weight.
However, she then started to experience the pains. One day, while living in the Dundee University halls of residence, she was in such agony that she had to call her mother to take Ninewells Hospital. However, she then started to experience the pains. One day, while living in the Dundee University halls of residence, she was in such agony that she had to call her mother to take her to Ninewells Hospital.
Ms Cousins said: "That day when I was rushed to A&E, I would say I was at about 20 out of 10 on the pain scale. I was being sick, couldn't breathe, couldn't lie down - I needed help as this couldn't continue."Ms Cousins said: "That day when I was rushed to A&E, I would say I was at about 20 out of 10 on the pain scale. I was being sick, couldn't breathe, couldn't lie down - I needed help as this couldn't continue."
Various tests were carried out but all came back normal, so Ms Cousins was kept in hospital for three nights.Various tests were carried out but all came back normal, so Ms Cousins was kept in hospital for three nights.
I seemed to recover quickly too and am so much happier now - I can actually enjoy food again Nadine CousinsI seemed to recover quickly too and am so much happier now - I can actually enjoy food again Nadine Cousins
Further examinations showed she had gallstones and a large cyst on her spleen.Further examinations showed she had gallstones and a large cyst on her spleen.
The cyst had been causing her reduced appetite as food was staying in her stomach and was not being properly digested.The cyst had been causing her reduced appetite as food was staying in her stomach and was not being properly digested.
Ms Cousins said: "The cyst on my spleen was pretty much the size of a football. It got to the point where I was so uncomfortable that I was feeling sick most of the time."Ms Cousins said: "The cyst on my spleen was pretty much the size of a football. It got to the point where I was so uncomfortable that I was feeling sick most of the time."
The teenager, who is a medical student, waited until she had sat her exams then underwent the three-hour operation to have part of the spleen removed.The teenager, who is a medical student, waited until she had sat her exams then underwent the three-hour operation to have part of the spleen removed.
Consultant surgeon Francesco Polignano said: "This is an advanced and extremely specialised procedure for benign conditions in children or young people, in which the spleen is still crucial in fighting infections that can otherwise become lethal.Consultant surgeon Francesco Polignano said: "This is an advanced and extremely specialised procedure for benign conditions in children or young people, in which the spleen is still crucial in fighting infections that can otherwise become lethal.
"Preserving part of the spleen safeguards its immune function and avoids the lifelong requirement for antibiotics and vaccinations that are recommended when the whole spleen is removed."Preserving part of the spleen safeguards its immune function and avoids the lifelong requirement for antibiotics and vaccinations that are recommended when the whole spleen is removed.
"In Nadine's case this large cyst was causing significant compression on her stomach."In Nadine's case this large cyst was causing significant compression on her stomach.
"I am not aware that any similar procedure, where half the spleen is removed rather than the whole, has been performed before through keyhole surgery in Scotland or Great Britain.""I am not aware that any similar procedure, where half the spleen is removed rather than the whole, has been performed before through keyhole surgery in Scotland or Great Britain."
Ms Cousins added: "I seemed to recover quickly too and am so much happier now - I can actually enjoy food again."Ms Cousins added: "I seemed to recover quickly too and am so much happier now - I can actually enjoy food again."