Medica performs a successful surgery on a patient from Tripura, hit by an Air Gun Pallet

Kolkata, 28^th March 2022: Medica Group of Hospitals, the largest private hospital chain in Eastern India, at its flagship facility Medica Superspecialty Hospital in Kolkata conducted a critical operation on a 47-year-old man from Tripura. The team of experienced doctors from the ENT department and the care team of Medica joined hands together for this unique case. The team put in their combined efforts under the leadership of Dr. Souvik Roy Choudhury, Consultant ENT and Head Neck Surgeon, Medica Superspecialty Hospital who was ably supported by Dr. Shaswati Sengupta Datta, Consultant ENT and Dr. Rajarshi Mitra, Attending Consultant ENT along with the care team of Medica including, Dr. Kasturi Hassan Bandyopadhyay, Consultant Anaesthesia and Dr. Ezaz Bari, Consultant Radiologist, ensured to achieve this momentous feat on 19^th March 2022.

Sanjoy Saha, a 47-year-old male from Tripura was referred to Medica Superspecialty Hospital, Kolkata on 15^th March 2022, after initial treatment in Agartala due to his gradual worsening state and anesthesia difficulties.

Mr. Saha was in the market on a normal day when he was suddenly hit by an unidentified source injuring the left side of the face. After a subsequent investigation, a wound was noticed over the upper part of the face on the left side, which later revealed that the foreign body was a bullet hit by an air gun. The bullet was impacted deep inside the facial bones on the left side resulting in pain and swelling over the left hemifacial area (a nervous system disorder in which the muscles on one side of your face twitch involuntarily). After checking his health records, he was found suffering from severe Ankylosing Spondylitis (a long-term condition in which the spine and other areas of the body become inflamed and can cause some of the bones in the spine (vertebrae) to fuse. This fusing makes the spine less flexible and can result in a hunched posture. If ribs are affected, it can be difficult to breathe deeply) for years and has a restricted mouth opening. Post diagnosis, radiological, and clinical examination doctors planned to go for surgery with a multidisciplinary approach as he posed major anesthesia difficulty. Routine blood investigations and CT FACE with 3D reconstruction (scan) were further done to identify the exact location of the bullet and to spot the Pellet.

The surgery was carried out on 19^th March 2022. During Anesthesia, intubation was extremely difficult due to the stiffness of the spine and highly restricted flexion or extension of the neck. Hence, Fibreoptic Bronchoscopy guided Intubation (an effective technique for establishing airway access in patients with both anticipated and unanticipated difficult airways) was done, and the surgery was performed smoothly through a behind-the-lip (sublabial) approach. The bullet was deep inside the facial bones on the left side and close to major nerves and blood vessels. Meticulous Dissection was carried out without injuring any vital structures and the bullet was removed in no time. The wound was closed, and anesthesia reversal also went uneventful.

Dr. Souvik Roy Choudhury, who led the operation, said, “When Mr. Saha was brought to Medica for hospitalization, he was in extreme pain and the operation was the need of the hour. The most challenging part of this operation was his anesthesia due to the stiffness in his body. We decided to go with the Fibreoptic Bronchoscopy guided Intubation, considered as “gold standard” of difficult airway (DA) management approach for anesthesia and that success made the entire operation effective. He was given a normal diet the very next day. The recovery was very smooth; swelling and the pain subsided in the next 2 days; post which he was released from the hospital. Mr. Saha and his entire family are extremely pleased with the treatment provided to him. We wish him the very best in life”

Mr. Sanjoy Saha was put on a soft diet on an immediate postoperative day. He was discharged with a very satisfying post-operative evaluation after 2 days of the surgery and is slowly getting back to his normal life.

Having set benchmarks in patient care, Medica Superspecialty Hospital, which has a world-class comprehensive surgery department at the Kolkata facility is widely known for its excellence in every department has now added another feather to its cap, after successfully treating the critical ENT patient from Tripura.  

About Medica Group of Hospitals:  

Medica Group of Hospitals, one of the major and fast-growing chains of hospitals in Eastern India today, has built and managed numerous healthcare facilities across the Eastern region over the past few years. The healthcare chain launched its operations with Medica North Bengal Clinic (MNBC) in Siliguri in 2008 and soon followed up with its flagship Hospital – Medica Superspecialty Hospital (MSH) – in Kolkata in 2010. The group has footprints in West Bengal, Jharkhand, Odisha, Bihar, and Assam.