Multi-disciplinary approach by GMC docs saves one life

How a multi-disciplinary approach can save a patient’s life is evident from the example where a 50 year old male patient from Akola suffering from severe bleeding in rectum was given a new lease of life by doctors in Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH). Here doctors of Surgery, Anaesthesia and Interventional Radiology worked together, treated a patient with proper planning and brought a smile on his face. Patient who was admitted in Surgery Unit V as a emergency case was first treated by Dr Aarti Mitra, a senior Surgeon of Department of Surgery. “Patient was suffering from severe bleeding per rectum and was in shock. Patient was immediately admitted and given multiple blood transfusions, Fresh Frozen Plasma and complete blood. His CT abdomen too was done, but we could not notice the cause of bleeding. Of course due to blood transfusion patient became stable for some time. Again he started bleeding, his haemoglobin was dropped. So, we sent the patient to Interventional Radiology department at Trauma Centre there Dr Jawahar Rathod did a wonderful job,” informed Dr Mitra.

Patient was taken into Cathlab. Dr Jawahar Rathod, Senior Interventional Radiologist did Digital Subtraction Angiography of Superior Mesenteric Artery (SMA). It showed bleeding within the jejunal loops from the jejunal branch of SMA. Meanwhile, Anaesthetist Dr Pompy Sharma noticed that patient was facing respiratory problem as due to bleeding his pulse rate too was dropped. So he did intubation that was a bit difficult, that made patient feel a bit relieved. It was done under the guidance of Dr Naresh Tirpude, Head, Department of Anaesthesia and Dr Pradeep Dhumne, in-charge of Anaesthesia at Trauma Centre. After intubation, Dr Jawahar Rathod and his team again swung into action. He performed coil embolisation due to which the bleeding was stopped and patient's general condition also registered improvement. “After the coil embolisation though we were able to stop bleeding, we still could not notice the main cause. So, we discussed the issue with surgeons. Dr Aarti Mitra, Unit-Incharge and Dr Unmed Chandak, Associate Professor did diagnostic laparascopy and they found a tumor over there, which caused the bleeding to the patient. She removed the tumor and sent it for biopsy.

That detected Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST). Quick decision of Dr Mitra to send the patient to Interventional Radiology department helped in saving the patient’s life,” commented Dr Jawahar Rathod. Dr Mitra said, “Final pathological report of the patient showed low grad malignancy so we have prescribed him the medicines that would stop the re-emergence of tumor. The tablets will also act as chemotherapy agent to fight little malignancy.” The case was present as the rare one in the meeting of Gastrointestinal (GUT) Society.

Those involved in coil embolisation procedure included Dr Jawahar Rathod and his team Dr Rohit Verma, Dr Shivprasad Jaybhay. They performed it under the guidance of Dr (Prof.) Aarti Anand and Dr (Prof.) P P Gour. Procedure was done under Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Jan Aarogya Yojana. Patient expressed his gratitude towards entire Interventional Radiology, surgical team and anaesthesiologists. Dr Sajal Mitra, Dean, GMCH appreciated the prompt treatment provided to the patient by all the doctors and congratulated them. Dr Sajal Mitra while talking to ‘The Hitavada’ said, “We are here to serve the poor and needy patient. It gives us personal satisfaction too when patient recovers and go home with broad smile on his face.”

Rectal bleeding can be a symptom of colorectal or anal cancer, a type of cancer that can be cured if detected early. Rectal bleeding can also be caused by hemorrhoids, anal fissures, colitis or many other causes. Common causes of rectal bleeding include hemorrhoids, anal fissures. It can lead to death also if not attended early.