Raipur Doctors Perform Life-Saving Surgery to Preserve Arm After Violent Attack
In a remarkable display of medical expertise, doctors at the state-run Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Medical College and Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar Memorial Hospital in Raipur have successfully executed a highly complex surgical procedure. The operation saved the arm of a 34-year-old man whose subclavian artery was completely severed during a brutal knife attack. This type of injury typically results in either amputation or fatal blood loss, making the successful outcome particularly significant.
A Terrifying Incident on the Road to the Railway Station
The patient, a resident of Amleshwar who works for an electric vehicle company, was traveling with his family on a motorcycle toward Raipur railway station. Tragedy struck when their motorcycle collided with an electric rickshaw. In a shocking turn of events, the rickshaw driver attacked the man with a sharp knife, striking him on the left shoulder and completely severing the critical subclavian artery.
Bystanders acted swiftly, rushing the unconscious patient to the emergency department of Ambedkar Hospital. Medical staff immediately employed cotton gauze packing to temporarily control the profuse bleeding. While this emergency measure halted the haemorrhage, it also inadvertently stopped blood flow to the left arm, causing the limb to begin turning black—a clear indication of impending gangrene.
The Surgical Challenge: Accessing a Deep Artery
The subclavian artery presents a formidable surgical challenge due to its location deep within the chest cavity. To reach the injury site, a multidisciplinary medical team was assembled under the leadership of Dr Krishnakant Sahu, Head of the Department of Heart, Chest and Vascular Surgery. Orthopedic surgeons assisted by cutting the clavicle (collarbone), providing the necessary access for the vascular team to address the damaged artery.
During the meticulous four-hour operation, surgeons discovered a 3-centimeter section of the artery had been completely destroyed. They skillfully replaced this damaged segment with a 7x30 millimeter Dacron artificial vascular graft to restore proper blood circulation. The patient required five units of blood during this marathon surgery.
Protecting Nerves and Ensuring Complete Recovery
The surgical team took extraordinary care to protect the brachial plexus nerve bundle during the procedure, preventing potential permanent paralysis. Once the vascular repair was successfully completed, the orthopedic team meticulously re-fixed the clavicle using a metal plate for stabilization.
The patient has made a full recovery and has returned to his daily work routine, a testament to the surgical team's skill and the hospital's comprehensive post-operative care.
Medical Leadership Hails Coordinated Effort
Dr Vivek Choudhary, Dean of Pt. JNM Medical College, emphasized that the procedure's success reflected exceptional coordination between the surgical and trauma units. "This case demonstrates what can be achieved through seamless collaboration across medical specialties," he noted.
Medical Superintendent Dr Santosh Sonker highlighted the inherent risks involved, stating that "repairing a major artery like the subclavian is always a high-risk undertaking that requires precision, experience, and excellent hospital infrastructure."
This medical achievement underscores the advanced capabilities available at Raipur's government medical institutions and sets a benchmark for handling similar traumatic vascular injuries in the future.
