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Rajasthan: Over 6,000 Stones Removed From 70-year-old Man's Gallbladder

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In a remarkable medical case, over 6,000 stones were removed from a 70-year-old man's gallbladder in Rajasthan, India.

The operation, which lasted 30 minutes, was critical due to the potential risks of pancreas inflammation, jaundice, and cancer.

The patient, who had a family history of gallstones, is now completely fit after the surgery.

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What's the story

In a remarkable medical feat, doctors at a private hospital in Kota, Rajasthan, successfully removed 6,110 gallstones from a 70-year-old farmer. According to ETV Bharat, the patient had been suffering from stomach pain, vomiting, and other complications for several years. He decided to seek medical help and approached the hospital last week, following which a surgery was performed on him by Dr. Dinesh Jindal, a leading laparoscopic surgeon.

Gallbladder size doubled due to stones

The patient's sonography revealed that his gallbladder was filled with stones, causing it to nearly double in size from 7x2 cm to 12x4 cm. Dr. Jindal highlighted the severity of this case, stating, "It was a critical case, as the stones in the gallbladder can cause serious harm to the patient. He could have suffered from inflammation in the pancreas, jaundice, and even cancer."

Surgery duration and patient's recovery

The operation itself lasted just 30 minutes, but counting the stones took hospital staff over two hours. Dr. Jindal noted that extra caution was necessary during surgery due to a hole in the gallbladder which could have allowed stones to spread in the stomach. "The patient was at risk of infection. That is why these stones were removed by placing the gallbladder in an endobag," he explained.

Possible causes of gallstones

The doctor said there are several potential causes for such a condition, including genetics, fast food consumption, fatty food intake, or rapid weight loss. However, in this particular case, the patient had a family history of a similar issue. "So, in his case, it seems it was genetic," he concluded. The patient was discharged the day after surgery and is completely fit now.

How Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, Zepbound May Help Treat Other Diseases: Here's What To Know

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A class of drugs that includes popular medications like Ozempic, Wegovy, Rybelsus (semaglutide) or Mounjaro and Zepbound (tirzepatide) has not only proven effective in treating weight loss and diabetes: Mounting evidence suggests these drugs may be effective at treating other conditions like cancer, Alzheimer's and COVID-19.

Boxes of Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro.

dpa/picture alliance via Getty Images Key Facts

Although the drugs were first approved for Type 2 diabetes maintenance, they were approved for weight loss in recent years, and research has shown they cause significant results: Tirzepatide typically causes patients to lose an average of 22.5% of body fat, while semaglutide causes a 15% reduction.

However, growing evidence suggests these medications may treat other diseases like cancer, substance abuse, cardiovascular disease and brain disorders like Alzheimer's and depression.

Covid-19: Semaglutide (ozempic, Wegovy, Rybelsus) Could Impact Death Rate

Although patients taking semaglutide during the COVID-19 pandemic had similar rates of COVID-19 infection compared to the placebo group, those taking the drug had a 33% lower risk of dying from coronavirus infection, researchers found.

Cardiovascular Issues: Semaglutide Drugs May Reduce Strokes, Heart Attacks

An August study found semaglutide reduces the risk of developing cardiovascular conditions like stroke and heart attack in people with heart failure by 28%. The drug also caused a 24% reduction in cardiovascular-related death, and a 19% decrease in all causes of death, according to the study. Previous research also found the drug cuts the risk of stroke, heart attack or death due to cardiovascular disease by 20% in those who are obese or overweight, leading the FDA to approve semaglutide for cardiovascular management in those with higher BMIs.

Diabetes: Tirzepatide Reduces Type 2 Risk

Tirzepatide drastically cut the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes by 94% in people with prediabetes who were also overweight or obese, according to an August study.

Sleep Apnea: These Weight Loss Drugs Can Reduce Sleep Breathing Problems

Researchers found tirzepatide significantly reduces the number of breathing interruptions during sleep—one of the main factors to measure disease severity—for obese people with moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea. Some patients saw such drastic improvements that they may no longer need their continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines, which keep airways open, while sleeping.

High Blood Pressure: Weight Loss Drugs Can Reduce Threat

Overweight and obese patients taking tirzepatide saw significant decreases in their blood pressure—especially those taking the highest dose of the medication—a February study found.

Alcoholism: Ozempic Could Reduce Alcohol Use Disorder

Obese patients who took semaglutide saw between a 50%-56% decrease in the risk of alcohol use disorder and the recurrence of it. The researchers replicated the study using patients with Type 2 diabetes, and found similar results

Kidney Disease: Semaglutide Could Prevent Chronic Issue

Participants taking semaglutide who had Type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease had a 24% lower chance of experiencing a major kidney-related event like kidney failure, according to research by the New England Journal of Medicine.

Cancer: 10 Types Could Be Reduced By These Drugs

GLP-1s like semaglutide and tirzepatide caused significant risk reductions of 10 types of cancers in people with Type 2 diabetes when compared to insulin, according to a JAMA Oncology study. The cancers included in the study were gallbladder, colorectal, ovarian, endometrial, kidney, esophageal, liver, multiple myeloma, meningioma and pancreatic cancers—which are all obesity-related cancers.

Pancreatitis: Semaglutide Could Reduce It In Those With Diabetes

Patients with Type 2 diabetes and a history of pancreatitis took semaglutide and were followed for 15 years. They were up to three times less likely to experience a recurrence of pancreatitis compared to participants taking other drugs.

Liver Disease: Both Drugs May Reduce Risk

Patients with Type 2 diabetes and chronic liver disease who took GLP-1s had a reduced risk of developing liver cancer and cirrhosis—scarring of the liver—compared to those who didn't take the drug, a Gut study found.

Parkinson's: Drug Could Stall Worsening Symptoms

Participants in a phase II trial with Parkinson's who took an older GLP-1 called lixisenatide saw no worsening of motor function symptoms over a year, compared to the placebo group who did see intensified symptoms.

Alzheimer's: Drug Might Slow Decline

Researchers found patients with Alzheimer's who took liraglutide had 18% slower cognitive decline over the course of a year compared to those taking a placebo.

Depression: Drugs Might Stave Off Depression

Patients taking tirzepatide, semaglutide, dulaglutide, and exenatide had a lower likelihood of being diagnosed with depression after starting the medication, compared to those who didn't, according to a February study.

Suicide: Studies Suggest Could Reduce Dangerous Thoughts

GLP-1s' relationship with suicidal thoughts has been long debated. The FDA reported there was no preliminary link between semaglutide and suicidal ideation after investigating several adverse event reports. Recent research found people who took semaglutide and had no prior history of suicidal ideation were four times less likely to experience suicidal thoughts compared to those taking a non-GLP-1. Patients with a history of suicidal ideation taking semaglutide were two times less likely to experience suicidal thoughts compared to the group who took non-GLP1s.

What Negative Side Effects Can These Drugs (like Ozempic, Mounjaro) Cause?

Like any other drug, GLP-1s have the risk of causing adverse events. The most common side effects are gastrointestinal-related, like nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite and diarrhea, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Other side effects may include dizziness, an increased heart rate, infection, headaches and indigestion. Research suggests semaglutide may be associated with a four times higher risk of developing a rare form of blindness called nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy when used to treat Type 2 diabetes, and a seven times higher risk when used for obesity. Patients taking semaglutide had a greater risk of developing serious stomach problems like bowel obstruction and gastroparesis—when the stomach slows down or completely stops the movement of food to the small intestine—according to a JAMA Ophthalmology study.

Key Background

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists are a class of drugs used to treat diabetes and weight loss by interacting with the hunger part of the brain to suppress the appetite, and lowering blood sugar and A1C. Two of the most popular GLP-1s are semaglutide (brand name Ozempic, Wegovy and Rybelsus) and tirzepatide (brand name Mounjaro and Zepbound), but other drugs in this class include dulaglutide, exenatide, liraglutide and lixisenatide. Tirzepatide is a two-part medication, as it's a GLP-1 and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP), which works with the GIP hormone in the brain to increase insulin production and control appetite.

Mom Juanita Gantt Files Lawsuit Against Drugmaker, Claiming Ozempic And Wegovy Nearly Killed Her

A Pennsylvania mom is suing the maker of Ozempic and Wegovy claiming she nearly died from taking the prescription drugs and wasn't properly warned about potentially harrowing side effects.

Juanita Gantt said her doctor prescribed the trendy weight-loss drugs because she had a higher risk for diabetes and wanted to shed more than 20 pounds.

Juanita Gantt claims side effects from Ozempic and Wegovy nearly took her life. CBS News Gantt claimed she had "no warning" the side effects from Ozempic and Wegovy could have caused her serious health issues. CBS News

Her doctor initially prescribed Wegovy before switching her to Ozempic. The GLP-1 (or glucagon-like peptide-1) drugs are both produced by pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk.

Gantt said she was initially feeling "fine" for the first few months of her treatment until her husband found her unconscious on the floor in October 2023.

"I had no warning that this was even a possibility," she said in an interview on CBS News.

Gantt's colon was removed and she must use a ileostomy bag wherever she goes. CBS News

Doctors discovered that sections of her large intestine died and needed to be removed but as she was recovering from surgery Gantt went into cardiac arrest.

Fearing Gantt could die, health officials went so far as to call her daughter to warn her.

"Breaks my heart that my daughter got that phone call," Gantt added.

Gantt's colon was removed as a result, and she now must use a ileostomy bag wherever she goes.

The terrifying ordeal led Gantt to file suit against Novo Nordisk over warning labels on their drugs. Gantt claims the labels don't properly warn users and doctors about serious side effects like gastroparesis, stomach paralysis, or even bowel obstruction.

Juanita Gantt took the drugs because she was at risk for diabetes and she wanted to lose weight. CBS News

The prescription drugmaker told CBS in a statement that "the allegations in the lawsuits are without merit" and that it will "vigorously defend against these claims."

The drugs were originally created for diabetics because it stimulates insulin release and reduces blood sugar after eating — but in recent years, a surge of people have been using the drugs to lose weight.

Ozempic warns of side effects on its website like inflammation of your pancreas, changes in vision, low blood sugar, kidney problems, serious allergic reactions, gallbladder problems and more.

In March 2024, Wegovy became "the first weight loss medication to also be approved to help prevent life-threatening cardiovascular events in adults with cardiovascular disease and either obesity or overweight" according to a press release by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

The prescription drugmaker told CBS in a statement that "the allegations in the lawsuits are without merit." Michael Siluk/UCGUniversal Images Group via Getty Images / Getty Images Ozempic and Wegovy use for weight loss has surged in recent years. Shutterstock / Marc Bruxelle

Ozemipc has not been FDA approved for weight management but is approved to help people with type 2 diabetes. However, doctors have been prescribing it "off-label" in recent years due to the surge in popularity for weight loss.

According to an analysis by Gallup, an estimated 15 million Americans say they've used GLP-1 drugs to lose weight and a majority of people are above the age of 40.

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