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Author: Kaptan Mali
Publication: Afternoon Despatch & Courier
Date: July 17, 2006
Introduction: With blasts at nearby Matunga and Mahim, Sion Hospital was flooded with maximum number of patients being brought in and it did not let them down
Their efforts have been lauded by the Prime Minister of the country. "Splendid Job", is what Dr Manmohan Singh had to say to the medical fraternity at Sion Hospital (LTMG) and KEM Hospitals which he visited when he was in the city last week.
As the injured were wheeled into hospitals, doctors and paramedics got into the act of saving lives. Treating blast victims was indeed a challenging task as they were totally different from the other lot of patients on receives on a usual day.
At least a couple of blasts happened within the vicinity of Sion Hospital, bringing an influx of patients there. And indeed, the medical fraternity responded with alacrity and efficiency to the call which came in so very unexpectedly, despite the limited facilities available to them.
"It was around 6.50 pm that we got a message that a bomb explosion had taken place. And we realized that we had to be prepared. With no TV set in hospital, I called home and confirmed the news. Soon, I called surgeons and doctors to come to the hospital. Within 30 minutes, around 30 doctors were present and later in the next 30 minutes we had another 20 doctors," said Dr M E Yeolekar, Dean of Sion Hospital.
In a jiffy, logistics took importance as we had to mobilise patients, equipment and consumables on a war-footing. For three days and nights at a stretch, Sion Hospital doctors and other staff worked for patients.
Not only was care of injured patients important but identifying bodies was also a major problem and other procedures were important. "At the entrance itself, we checked the dead and transferred bodies to the morgue," said Dr Yeolekar.
Also, we received commendable support from NGOs and locals who helped patients and their relatives by providing basic help to relatives of the deceased and injured. And of course, they extend invaluable moral support to relatives of patients and the deceased too.
Blast injury cases
In normal cases, a-person gets injuries only on a single part of the body
and its easy to provide treatment. But in an explosion an injured person receives
multiple intensive injuries as shrapnel pierces the flesh and enters the body
which could prove fatal.
The foreign particles are removed from the body and affect soft body tissue. So the victim is provided treatments for fractures and minor surgeries. At this time, it is necessary to decide what type of surgical intervention a patient requires.
Such victims require immediate treatment as their blood pressure level drops due to continuous brooding. They also have hearing and psychological problems also so we had to treat them for that.
Criteria used for treatment
With a steady influx of injured persons and pressure from relatives at Sion
Hospital on the day of blast, it was difficult to provide treatment to all
of them immediately as all were in a serious condition. We had to be quick
in deciding what kind of treatment be administered to which patient. It was
difficult for hospital staff to differentiate between 'serious' and 'very
serious' cases. The injured who appeared weak, exhausted, collapsing and unconscious
were treated on a priority basis.
Politicians' visits
Dr. Yeolekar, Dean of Sion Hospital said, "Visit of ministers and politicians
is necessary as patients feel the soothing touch from these ministers but
it should be limited and controlled as it disturbs our working. If these ministers
do not visit hospitals public will curse them for not being bothered about
them."
In an emergency
Sion Hospital has learnt that in future, for such emergency, there must be
* A computerised fast entry of injured
* Elevated communication facility
* Centralised view of overall treatment by a competent authority as some hospitals
become overcrowded and some remain idle at such a time
* Proper look at mobilisation of injured
* Better coordination between all supportive agencies
But why post mortem?
Disturbed relatives complained that doctors should not have conducted post
mortems as the reason for death of blast victims was known.
But Dr Yeolekar says due to post mortem, relatives get summary of the dead which helps relatives claim compensation and helps in related medico-legal aspects.
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