Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru
Mangaluru, Aug 24: A multidisciplinary team at the Government Lady Goschen Hospital here has pulled off a high-risk surgery to save the life of a seven-month pregnant woman who was battling severe internal bleeding and a potentially life-threatening pregnancy complication.
The woman, hailing from a rural area in Beltangady taluk, developed severe abdominal pain two days ago and was initially taken to a private hospital. Realising the seriousness of the unusual and premature pain, the doctors there referred her to Government Lady Goschen Hospital in Mangaluru.
As the pain was unlike normal labour pain, doctors at Lady Goschen conducted a series of tests and detected internal bleeding in the abdomen. Her haemoglobin level had plunged to just 6 grams, while her blood oxygen level was also falling rapidly.
Given the critical situation, she was shifted to KMC Hospital, Attavar, for an MRI scan. The scan indicated the need for an emergency surgery. She would also require ICU care after the procedure, but the team learnt that no ICU bed was available at Wenlock District Hospital.
The Lady Goschen team, however, pressed ahead with the treatment.
A detailed examination by specialists revealed that an old scar from the woman’s previous Caesarean section had ruptured, causing the internal bleeding. Doctors also diagnosed placenta percreta, a highly dangerous condition in which the placenta grows through the uterine wall.
In her case, the placenta was not only obstructing the baby’s passage, but the associated blood vessels had extended beyond the uterus and invaded the urinary bladder. This exceptionally complex condition posed a major surgical challenge.
Multidisciplinary approach proves crucial
The hospital’s multidisciplinary approach, being followed for the past one-and-a-half years under the direction of medical superintendent Dr Durga Prasad M R, proved crucial in tackling the emergency.
A treatment plan was prepared in advance by a team comprising gynaecologists, a general surgeon, super-speciality specialists, and anaesthetists.
The surgery began at around 5 am and continued until 9 am, with the team ultimately succeeding in saving the woman’s life.
The procedure was conducted under the supervision of medical superintendent Dr Durga Prasad M R, with the support of medical officer Dr Jagadish and senior obstetrician Dr Dayanand.
KMC obstetricians Dr Bharathi and Dr Vineetha Shetty, urological surgeons Dr Sadananda Poojary and Dr Pramod, general surgeon Dr Akshith, and anaesthetists Dr Ranjan and Dr Rakshitha also assisted in the treatment.
Nursing staff Jalaja, Ashwini, Vineetha, Revathi, and Sindhu supported the medical team throughout the procedure.
Dr Durga Prasad M R said that the life of the woman, who was in a critical condition, could be saved through the coordinated efforts of the doctors and the nursing staff involved in this challenging case.