MARGAO: Displaying immense courage, professionalism, commitment and personal sacrifice, a team of young doctors at Mother Care Hospital, Margao successfully performed caesarean on a COVID positive patient.
The hospital officials informed that both the mother and baby are safe as this caesarean is one of the first few conducted in a private hospital in the State.
Mother Care Hospital officials said a team of young doctors led by Dr Sawani Hegde Surlakar, who is a consultant gynaecologist and obstetrician, performed a caesarean on a young COVID-19 positive patient on April 28. The patient was pregnant with moderately severe COVID-19 pneumonia and persistent fever.
Dr Aman Prabhugaonkar, consultant internal medicine informed Herald that the patient from Panjim was admitted to Mother Care Hospital due to shortage of beds in the capital city and other places. The patient could not be given full COVID treatment as there was a significant risk to her and the baby.
He said the severe shortage of beds due to the significant rise in cases made referring to the Goa Medical College a difficult option. At this point, the team of young doctors decided to step up to save the mother and her baby and they succeeded.
“There was no other option. We were duty-bound to provide the best treatment to the mother and her baby. We all are aware that presently the whole healthcare system has collapsed and it was our duty to show courage,” said Dr Sawani Hegde Surlakar.
She said both the mother and her baby are safe. The baby is taking further treatment at Classic Hospital, Margao. The critical NICU support for the 35-week-old baby weighing 2.2 kg was provided by Dr Jeetendra and Dr Suhel Nagarsekar and his Classic Hospital team.
According to Dr Sawani, the time has come to perform their duties with dedication and professionalism.
“This COVID 19 crisis has given us (doctors and medical staff) a big challenge. We all are trying our best to save lives. We have been hearing all the stories of crisis and pathetic conditions of people suffering from COVID 19. But, the positive stories are the new hopes for us,” she stated.
The patient was managed by Dr Aman Prabhugaonkar and Dr Jagruti Nadkarni, consultant pulmonologist for COVID 19 and is now doing well.
The team members led by Dr Sawani include Dr Neeraj Borkar, consultant gynaecologist and obstetrician, Dr Kefas Quadros, consultant anaesthetist and OT assistant Tirthanaka Naik.
Dr Prasad Hegde, consultant radiologist performed bedside ultrasound for detection of estimated birth weight of the baby.
The Mother Care Hospital was constantly supporting the team with the infrastructure and most importantly moral support.
