Doctors at SHRI braves COVID-19 and save a critical patient by performing surgery at midnight without waiting for Coronavirus test result

IT News

Imphal, Aug 1:

Amidst allegations over doctors’ refusal to provide health care facilities to the patient in need owing to COVID-19 scare, doctors at Shija Hospital and Research Institute (SHRI) Imphal brave the dreaded virus and saves life of a 46 years old man by performing emergency operation at midnight yesterday without waiting result of whether the patient is infected by COVID-19 or not.

Report said that the 46 years old man from Takyel Khongbal was rushed to Shija Hospital after some hospital refused to provide treatment at around 10.30 pm yesterday (July 31). A write up along with two photos of doctors and nurses performing surgery at the operation theatre of SHRI caught the attention of this newspaper and inquired on how the team at SHRI took risk and save the life of the patient when there were talks around the state about doctors’ refusing treatment to needy patients.

“It was our duty to save life and we are not taking risk but doing our duty at our best”,  Dr. Ajit Lukram, Consultant Surgeon at Shija Hospitals who led the operation team told Imphal Times over phone.

“After I received a called from the hospital about a patient who need emergency surgery at around 11 pm , I rushed to the hospital and by around midnight we performed the operation and successfully save him”, Dr. Ajit told Imphal Times.

When he received the called from the hospital he was resting with his two beloved daughter and son of around 7 and 5 years old after returning from the hospital.

The life saving operation on the 46 years old man was conducted at midnight for hollow organ perforation in the abdomen, he said.

Consultant Surgeon Dr. Ajit Lukram expressed his apprehension as well as his responsibility as a doctor to perform the life saving operation. His team comprised of a junior doctor, two theatre staff, a consultant anesthetist and two theatre technicians who were all in PPE and other protective gear.

Dr Ajit Lukram said that if we take the basic precautions meticulously, and necessary protective gear is used than emergency life-saving surgeries can be taken up safely. But having a COVID test before the operation is more helpful to reduce the anxiety among the caregivers, all the while taking all the necessary precautions irrespective of the test results. A mixed feeling of emotions was felt among the team yesterday when contacted by Imphal times today.