Bengaluru, Feb 18: Doctors at Fortis Hospital Nagarbhavi successfully saved the life of a 48-year-old man who was brought to the emergency department in critical condition following a major road traffic accident. The patient’s survival was made possible through seamless coordination among multidisciplinary teams, including emergency medicine, gastrointestinal surgery, anaesthesia, intensive care, orthopaedics, and nursing.
The patient arrived in a state of severe shock, with dangerously low blood pressure and a significantly elevated heart rate—clear indicators of massive internal bleeding and compromised blood supply to vital organs. Recognising the life-threatening emergency, the hospital’s emergency medicine team immediately initiated resuscitation and activated the trauma response protocol.
Further evaluation revealed that the patient had sustained a severe splenic injury due to the high-impact collision, resulting in uncontrolled internal bleeding within the abdomen. He was immediately shifted to the operating theatre, where the gastrointestinal surgery team led by Dr. Pranav Honnavara Srinivasan, Consultant – Gastrointestinal Surgery, performed an emergency abdominal surgery.
Explaining the complexity of the case, Dr. Srinivasan said,
“The spleen is a highly vascular organ, and injuries to it can lead to rapid and life-threatening internal bleeding. In this case, the accident had completely shattered the spleen, causing massive blood loss. We found nearly three litres of blood in the abdominal cavity, highlighting the severity of his condition. Emergency removal of the damaged spleen was the only definitive way to control the bleeding, stabilise the patient, and prevent irreversible organ failure. Without immediate surgical intervention, the outcome could have been fatal.”
The two-hour surgery was followed by intensive monitoring in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Once stabilised, the patient underwent an additional procedure to address a fracture in his left forearm. His recovery progressed steadily, and he responded well to treatment. After 10 days of hospitalisation, he was discharged in a stable condition.
Mr. Ratheef Naik, Facility Director, Fortis Hospital Nagarbhavi, said,
“This case underscores how timely intervention and multidisciplinary teamwork can make the difference between life and death in severe trauma cases. From emergency care to surgery and intensive monitoring, every team worked in close coordination to ensure the best possible outcome for the patient.”