Mohali
21 November 2023
DIVYA AZAD
Swift and timely action by the ENT Department at Fortis Hospital Mohali saved the life of a crime branch constable who had sustained a close-range bullet injury during cross-firing with miscreants at Kaithal recently.
Constable Tarsem Kumar posted in the Crime Branch, Kaithal, was rushed to Fortis Hospital Mohali with immense bleeding from the oral cavity. The bullet had travelled through his oral cavity and was lodged in the base of the skull. The impact of the bullet was such that the tongue was split into two parts. Upon arrival, the Patient exhibited a weak pulse, breathlessness, acute swelling on the face and tongue along with massive bleeding from the wound.
Dr Ashok Gupta, Director, ENT and Head & Neck Surgery, Fortis Hospital Mohali, first determined the bullet’s trajectory and planned the meticulous surgery to prevent more blood loss. As the bullet was stuck in the base of the skull, extreme precision was required. The team of doctors led by Dr Ashok Gupta and including Dr Anuragini Gupta, Associate Consultant; and Dr Neha Sharma from the ENT Department, conducted the surgery and carefully extracted the bullet lodged in the patient’s skull during the surgery which lasted three hours .
The Patient made swift recovery and was able to walk 48 hours after the surgery. He was discharged on the third day of the surgery and has recovered fully.
Discussing the case, Dr Ashok Gupta, said, “We were able to remove the bullet from the patient’s jaw with extreme caution. Accuracy and precision were required to conduct the surgery. After 48 hours of the procedure, the patient was able to walk and communicate with ease. There was less edema and swelling post the surgery.”
