Ouagadougou: The Pouytenga Medical Center successfully removed a 6.1 kg ovarian cyst from a 17-year-old girl. The Pouytenga Medical Center with Surgical Unit (CMA) carried out a surgical procedure of rare complexity on Thursday, July 23, 2026, successfully removing a giant ovarian cyst weighing 6.1 kilograms and measuring 32 centimeters in diameter from a 17-year-old adolescent, while preserving her fertility. The intervention, conducted by the gynecologist-obstetrician Dr. Tass©r© Santi, involved a young patient residing in the commune of Kando.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the patient presented to the CMA for abdominal pain accompanied by a significant increase in abdominal volume, suggesting a full-term pregnancy. “During the clinical examination, we quickly realized that it was not a pregnancy. The ultrasound confirmed the presence of a very large ovarian cyst requiring urgent surgical intervention,” explained Dr. Santi.
The gynecologist explained that the operation consisted of a cystectomy, that is, the removal of the cyst, which occupied a large part of the abdominal cavity and was compressing several organs. One of the main challenges of this intervention was to preserve the reproductive capabilities of the young patient. “The cyst encompassed a fallopian tube as well as a large part of the left ovary. We were able to completely remove the cyst with its capsule while preserving the fallopian tube and part of the ovarian tissue. This preservation will allow the patient to continue ovulating and preserve her chances of having children,” he said.
Dr. Tass©r© Santi stressed that this surgery presented significant risks, particularly due to the high vascularization of the cyst, which could lead to intraoperative hemorrhage, as well as the risk of rupture of the mass during the procedure. The exceptional size of the cyst also posed an anesthetic challenge due to the compression exerted on neighboring organs.
To limit these risks, a multidisciplinary preparation was put in place before the operation, with the completion of a complete preoperative assessment, the preparation of blood products and the mobilization of the surgical and anesthesia teams. The procedure, which took 79 minutes, was carried out without major complications.
“The patient experienced no significant bleeding during the operation. The post-operative course is satisfactory and she has already resumed a normal diet,” the specialist said happily.
The doctor took this opportunity to raise awareness among women and girls about the importance of early consultation in the event of any abnormal increase in abdominal volume. “Apart from pregnancy, any unusual increase in abdominal size should prompt a prompt consultation with a healthcare professional. Early diagnosis helps avoid serious complications such as torsion or rupture of the cyst, which can be life-threatening,” he advised.
This procedure is the first surgery of this scale performed since the opening of the CMA in Pouytenga in 2014.