Next seven days crucial for Patiala cop, say PGI doctors

Naina Mishra

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 13

The seven-and-a-half-hour-long successful surgery of a Patiala ASI Harjit Singh’s amputated hand by a team of nine surgeons of the PGI has received applause from all quarters. Doctors are, however, keeping their fingers crossed over the uninterrupted blood circulation in reimplanted wrist for the next seven days.

PGI statement

“The patient, whose left hand was reimplanted on Sunday, was cheerful on Monday. The vitals are stable, and the general condition is satisfactory. The replanted left hand is warm and healthy. The patient is in high spirits and very positive. He is likely to be kept in the hospital for another 10 days or so. The PGI thanks everybody for their kind wishes. Let us pray for the speedy recovery of the braveheart.”

THE INCIDENT

ASI Harjit Singh’s hand was reportedly chopped off with a sword during an attack by Nihangs at a vegetable market in Patiala on Sunday morning.

There is also a fear of infection as the hand had fallen on the road after being severed. “Usually, infection is detected in 72 hours. We are keeping our fingers crossed. Till now, it is absolutely fine,” said Dr Gaba.

Dr Jerry, who was also a part of the team, said, “It was very challenging. However, the good thing is that the patient is brave.”

Dr Ankur Luthra, Consultant Anaesthetist, also a team member, said, “It was a challenging surgery as the patient was on the heavier side and had consumed tea

at 6 am. Normally, for any general anaesthetic procedure, the mandatory eight hours of fasting is allowed or else the gastric or stomach contents come in the lungs when the patient is under anaesthesia.”

Dr Luthra added, “We had taken adequate measures to prevent gastric aspiration. We conducted rapid sequencing intubation.

The patient had lost around a litre of blood on his way to the PGI. During the operation, we had to transfuse three units of blood. The patient’s HB count was eight when the operation began. Normally, it is 12 or 13.”

“The surgeon could re-establish connection with the vessels, nerves, tendon and bones. The pulses have returned and we are hoping after five to six days when the splint opens, he regains some of his hand functions. Whenever a graft is put back on the hand, there is always a chance that the body may reject it,” added Dr Luthra.

The operation involved reattaching around 50 structures, which is done under microscopic vision. The arrangements were in place before the patient arrived.