Early Times Report
JAMMU, Sept 4: The Department of Neurosurgery at AIIMS Jammu recently demonstrated the cutting-edge capability and interdisciplinary coordination that is transforming paediatric head trauma care in the region. Last week, an 8-year-old girl presented to the hospital with a severe traumatic brain injury, after a fall from the first floor, in an unconscious state with a low Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score of 7, indicating a critical and life-threatening condition.
Surgery in young children for head injuries is often associated with significant risks and complications. Recognizing this difficulty, the neurosurgery team, led by Dr Shaurya Darbari and Dr Kanav Gupta, decided to take a measured and innovative approach to her treatment. They inserted an intracranial pressure (ICP) catheter directly into the child's brain to continuously monitor the pressure inside the skull. Medical teams can detect dangerous swelling with this invasive device and take action before irreparable harm is done.
In close collaboration with the anaesthesia team, including Dr. Slomi Gupta and Dr. Kanika Gupta, and the pediatrics team led by Dr. Samriti Gupta, Dr. Sheetal Ganju, Dr. Radhika Uppal, Dr Harkirat, and Dr. Vivek Pandita, the child was placed in a carefully controlled therapeutic coma. Unlike a natural coma, this medically induced coma shuts down brain activity temporarily, allowing the brain to rest and heal.
Guided by the ICP catheter readings, the child remained in this induced coma for five days, during which her intracranial pressure was closely monitored to maintain it at safe levels without the need for repeated CT scans. Once the ICP readings stabilized and the swelling decreased, the child was gradually brought out of the coma and extubated. Today, she is neurologically intact-eating, talking with her parents, playing, and preparing to return to school. She was discharged from the hospital recently, marking a full-circle recovery from a condition that could have otherwise resulted in devastating outcomes.
|
