Ludhiana, May 8
To mark International Thalassaemia Day and World Red Cross Day, the Department of Transfusion Medicine and the thalassaemia unit of the Department of Pediatrics at the Dayanand Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) jointly organised the 8th Annual Medicos Voluntary Blood Donation camp, here, today.

More than 110 consultants, medical students and interns came forward to donate blood at the camp.

The camp was held under the supervision of Dr Amarjit Kaur, professor and head of transfusion medicine and Dr Parveen Sobti, professor of pediatrics and also the incharge of thalassaemia unit at the hospital.

In her address, Amarjit Kaur focused on the importance of safe blood. She said in the wake of widening gap between the need and availability of the blood for critically ill patients, blood donation could play a significant role.

Dr Praveen C. Sobti informed that every year, around 10,000 children born in India suffered from thalassaemia. In India, at present, 3.5 per cent of the population suffered from thalassaemia, while this figure stood at almost 5 per cent in Punjab.

Professor Dr J.G. Jolly (emeritus) was also present on the occasion.

The DMCH principal, Dr Daljit Singh, while inaugurating the camp, emphasised that for the success of voluntary blood donation movement, medical colleges and hospitals should play a more proactive role.

From the faculty, medical superintendent Dr Sandeep Puri and professor of urology and head of transplant unit Dr B.S. Aulakh were the first ones to donate blood.

Ludhiana, May 8
A team of cardiac surgeons and orthopaedicians, led by Dr K.C. Mukherjee and Dr Harpreet Gill, respectively, performed simultaneous cardiac bypass (CABG) and hip surgery on a 75-year old patient at SPS Apollo Hospitals here. No such case had been reported in medical literature from anywhere till date, the doctors claimed.

The doctors said here today that the patient had come to emergency with a hip fracture and was prepared for surgery to be performed the next day. However, on the morning, he was posted for hip surgery, the patient developed intense chest pain, and diagnosed to have heart disease and artery blockage. Angiography of the patient revealed critical left main coronary artery disease with triple vessel disease (blockage of three arteries).

Since immediate cardiac bypass was necessary as a life-saving measure, after thorough discussion and assessment of various vital parameters, the team of cardiac surgeons, cardiologists, orthopaedicians and anaesthesiologis, with the consent of relatives of the patient, decided to carry out both surgeries at the same time in a single anaesthesia.

Dr Mukherjee and his team performed beating heart bypass surgery in this critically balanced patient within three hours and handed him over to the orthopaedic team in a stable condition. Immediately thereafter, and in the same anaesthesia, Dr Harpreet Gill and his team performed surgery for hip fracture.

The doctors said the post-operative recovery was excellent. The patient was made non-weight bearing supported mobility on third day after surgery, and discharged from the hospital on 10th post-operative day in a very stable condition. "Now the patient is walking without any support as the fracture has healed and his cardiac condition is stable," added Dr Mukherjee.

Ludhiana, May 8
Jarkhar Academy boys faced stiff resistance from players of Jassowal Academy before romping home victorious 2-1 in the inaugural match of the Ludhiana District Hockey Championship (u-19), which began at the Prithipal Singh Memorial Astro-turf Stadium of Punjab Agricultural University, here, yesterday.

Sumeet Yadav of Jarkhar Academy put his side ahead in the 34th minute (field goal). Talveer Singh scored a superb field goal in the 47th minute to enhance the lead (2-0). However, Ajmer Singh of Jassowal Academy converted a penalty corner to reduce the margin.

In the second match, Raikot Academy boys were declared the winners as their opponents, Government Senior Secondary School, Roomi, failed to turn up.

Today, Namdhari Academy of Bhaini Sahib, recorded an easy 7-0 win over Baba Ishar Singh Senior Secondary School, while Guru Hargobind Academy, Sudhar got a walk-over against the PAU Hockey Academy, Ludhiana.