GMC Jammu Surgeons Rebuild Shattered Chest of Bus Accident Survivor | Kashmir Life

SRINAGAR: In a remarkable display of surgical precision and critical care, doctors at the Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery Department of the Super Speciality Hospital, Government Medical College (GMC) Jammu, have successfully saved the life of a 47-year-old man who suffered devastating chest injuries in a recent bus accident in Ramnagar.

The patient was brought to the hospital in a critical state, battling multiple life-threatening injuries. Medical examinations revealed a complete disruption of the sternum (breastbone), with the upper segment (manubrium) separated from the main body of the bone. In addition, he had sustained multiple rib fractures on both sides, resulting in a severe condition known as “flail chest,” where a segment of the chest wall moves independently and disrupts normal breathing.

Doctors described the patient’s condition as extremely fragile upon arrival. They said he was in shock, struggling to maintain oxygen levels, with his chest wall showing paradoxical movement—collapsing inward during inhalation and bulging outward during exhalation—effectively compromising his respiratory function.

Complicating matters further, the patient had a pre-existing seizure disorder and had developed haemopneumothorax, a dangerous accumulation of both air and blood in the chest cavity.

“Such trauma patients deteriorate rapidly due to the combination of flail chest and lung contusions,” said Dr Shyam Singh, Head of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery at the hospital. “Close monitoring and timely intervention—especially stabilising the chest wall and ensuring ventilatory support—are crucial for survival in such cases.”

Despite initial emergency management, including the insertion of bilateral chest tubes and ventilator support, the patient’s oxygen levels remained unstable. Recognising the urgency, the surgical team opted for an advanced chest wall reconstruction procedure.

Using specialised titanium plates and screws, the surgeons carefully realigned and fixed the disrupted sternum while stabilising the fractured ribs. “This intricate internal fixation restored the structural integrity of the chest wall, enabling the lungs to function normally,” Dr Singh said.

The impact of the surgery was immediate and significant.

According to Dr Puja Vimesh, Head of Cardiothoracic Anaesthesiology, the patient showed remarkable improvement post-operation. “His clinical condition, hemodynamic stability, and oxygenation improved dramatically after surgery,” she said. “We were able to successfully wean him off ventilator support, and he is now recovering well in the Cardiovascular and Thoracic Intensive Care Unit.”

The successful management of such a complex case underscores the growing capabilities of the Super Speciality Hospital at GMC Jammu in handling high-velocity trauma cases that were once associated with high mortality rates. (KNO)