New Delhi, April 21 (IANS) A 50-year-old Delhi businessman, who weighed 238 kg and underwent surgery to reduce his girth, is recovering well after shedding 45 kg, doctors treating him said Wednesday.

"This is a rare case and we have never operated upon a person of such weight," Vidur Jyothi, surgeon at Batra Hospital who operated upon Mohan Lal, told IANS.

Lal was not able to move properly. He was a diabetic and was suffering from high blood pressure and Pulmonary Embolism (PE), a condition characterised by a blood clot that develops in a blood vessel most commonly in the leg, travels to an artery in the lung, and causes blockage of the artery.

Jyothi said the patient was critical and was suffering from low self-esteem. "He was in the catering business but the disease had affected him substantially. We operated upon him earlier this month and he is now stable. We waited for his full recovery before making it public," the doctor added.

"Now, his weight is 193 kg and he is expected to lose 3-4 kg of weight every week for a few months," Jyothi added.

The doctors performed 'Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy', in which a small pouch is made in the stomach using stapling devices and the entire procedure is done through that to reduce the stomach in volume.

"Problems like hypertension and diabetes are now under control," Jyothi said.