Date:24/11/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/11/24/stories/2007112458890100.htm

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Surgeons at Gandhi Hospital create history

Save man’s life by removing rod that pierced his stomach

HYDERABAD: An ‘unrecordable’ pulse rate, plunging blood pressure and excessive blood loss were not the only problems that Venkatesh faced when he was wheeled into the Gandhi Hospital. A metre-long iron rod that pierced his stomach and emerged out of his back was threatening to leave him dead.

Nothing short of a miracle would save the 25-year-old Venkatesh of Errabelli village in Medak district. Nevertheless, surgeons at Gandhi Hospital decided to go for an emergency surgery on Sunday last.

And the miracle did happen. Venkatesh, the sole breadwinner of his family, in all likelihood will go home in a fortnight or so. The autorickshaw he was travelling in rammed another vehicle at Gajwel on November 18 and the iron rod pierced his stomach. After some first aid at a local hospital in Gajwel, he was rushed to Gandhi Hospital.

As he was wheeled into the operation theatre, surgeons from departments of surgery, urology and cardiology gathered hurriedly and began carrying out one of their most complicated surgeries. They struggled for the next six hours repairing the damaged ureter, small and large intestines besides reviving the failing heart.

“Venkatesh is under sedation. We are constantly monitoring his condition. He should be okay,” the doctors said.

“His intestines were jutting out. Several internal organs were badly damaged and we had to revive them before removing the rod,” Dr. P. Praveen, a member of the surgeons’ team, recalled. “We had a tough time in removing the rod as we had to prevent anymore damage to other organs,” he said.

Mother overjoyed

Bala Amallu, mother of Venkatesh, cannot hide her joy for seeing her son alive. “It’s a rebirth for my son. Doctors at Gajwel gave him no chance,” she said in a choked voice.

Associate Professor of Department of Surgery M. Ramulu, Ramanathan from Department of Urology and C.T. Surgeon Ravindra led the team of doctors and paramedics in the surgery, which would certainly go down in the annals of Gandhi Hospital’s history.