Surat: Doctor on oxygen support risks life to save patient

SURAT: Even while on oxygen support, fighting the coronavirus infection, this doctor did not lose a second to rescue a critically-ill elderly Covid-19 patient.
Dr Sanket Mehta, an anaesthetist, saved the life of 71-year-old Dinesh Purani who required urgent intubation for ventilator support. According to doctors, intubation of a collapsed patient has to be done within three minutes or else it could damage the brain permanently.
The incident took place on the night of August 9 at BAPS Hospital in Adajan where 37-year-old Dr Mehta, who has tested positive of Covid-19, was admitted in the ICU due to breathlessness and low oxygen level.
Talking with TOI, Dr Parshottam Koradia, CEO of BAPS Hospital, said, “Intubating critically ill patient is the job of an anaesthetist. The elderly patient (Purani) was rushed into the ICU with an urgent requirement of intubation. Since the doctors have to follow the Covid-19 protocol, our own anaesthetist could have taken 15-20 minutes to reach the ICU after wearing the PPE kit. In the meantime, Dr Mehta removed his high flow nasal cannula (HFNC) —oxygen supportand intubated the patient.”
Dr Mehta still on oxygen support, stable
It was a surprise to the doctors and health staff in the ICU to see Dr Mehta, who was just two beds away from Purani, removing his oxygen support, gathering strength and walk towards the patient’s bed and intubating in no time, he added.
“The elderly patient is still on the ventilator in the ICU and his condition is stable. Dr Mehta is in the hospital for the last 10 days battling Covid-19. He is unable to talk much due to weakness and breathing difficulty. He himself requires about six-litre per minute oxygen, but intubated Purani,” said Koradia.
Dr Mehta was working with the BAPS Hospital a few years ago and then he started his own private practice as visiting anaesthetist in private hospitals.
Dr Hiral Shah, vice-president of Surat Anaesthetic Association (SAA) told TOI, “Though Dr Mehta could not walk properly, he went to the patient without HFNC and intubated him. It could have cost him his life, but he he saved the life of the patient.”