Is Your Surgery Postponed Due To Covid19 Pandemic?

By in Internal Medicine

Aug 31, 2020

The rapid spread of the COVID19 pandemic has forced authorities, hospitals, and doctors to make difficult decisions regarding the management of patients with non-COVID19 diseases. One such decision was taken regarding the patients requiring surgery. Some patients need immediate surgical procedures to save their lives i.e. emergency/lifesaving surgery. In these patients, it is clear that the procedures should not and have not been delayed and hospitals are doing such surgeries while taking all the necessary precautions required to contain possible COVID19 spread. 

However, some illnesses are not immediately life-threatening but need surgical procedures to treat them i.e elective surgery. Almost all such elective surgical procedures have been indefinitely postponed given the rapid spread of the COVID19 pandemic. Since the latter half of March 2020 govt. hospitals in a bid to divert the resources for COVID19 containment have started canceling elective surgeries and they were quickly followed by the private hospitals.

Such a decision would previously be almost unheard of, however, under the current circumstances, there is no doubt regarding the legibility of such decisions. With ‘social distancing’ being a major tool in the containment of COVID19, it helped significantly to limit the number of patients visiting hospitals.

The decision to postpone elective surgeries has also helped divert resources such as ICU beds, ventilators, and manpower (doctors, nurses, and other hospital staff) towards the care of suspected and confirmed cases of SARS-CoV-19 infection. Besides, it has provided doctors, hospitals and administrative staff to draw strategies for patient care even as pandemic been rapidly spreading.

However, it cannot be denied that patients with non-COVID ailments requiring elective surgery have faced difficulties. They have had to stay at home with the fear of further complications that may arise due to non-reatment of the disease. Also, they may have had to bear the symptoms and discomfort related to the ailment. 

 A patient with stones in the gallbladder may have had to bear the vomiting and severe pain in the upper abdomen hoping that it will settle down. Such patients are at risk of complications such as jaundice and pancreatitis (swelling in the pancreas) which in some cases can even be life threatening. Similarly a patient with a Hernia may have had no option but to bear the dragging discomfort knowing well that there is no medicine to cure his disease. Such patients have also had to live with the possibility of serious complications such as the hernia getting stuck causing the intestinal obstruction or even strangulation.

In a bid to alleviate these symptoms they may even administer self-prescribed medications, which can lead to dangerous side-effects. All such patients are advised to consult their doctors online, as most of the best hospitals in India have started digital consultation services, including the Metro Hospital.

As the period of lockdown is extended and we get a better control over the pandemic it is becoming increasingly clear that is essential to address the problems of such non-covid patients while simultaneously fighting the pandemic. The list of illnesses that if not appropriately treated by a relatively simple “elective surgery” that can become complicated and even life-threatening if left in operated for long.

Such “elective surgeries” will need to be gradually restarted with all appropriate precautions to keep both the patient and the healthcare providers safe. Even if a decision is taken to defer the surgical procedure for some time it should be done after appropriate counseling of the patient and relatives. This would reassure the patients and not make them feel that someone else has decided to delay their treatment/surgery. The patient needs to have the confidence that their doctor is there for them even in these difficult times.

Meanwhile, patients who need elective surgeries (scheduled surgeries) also need to ensure that they take all the necessary precautions as advised by their consultant. If there are any sort of complications or uneasiness, it is advisable to immediately get in touch with the hospital with online consultation capability such as Metro Hospitals. They should know that they have not been left stranded and as per ICMR if required such surgeries can be done if recommended by your consultant.

Metro hospital is making every effort to reach out to their patients undergoing treatment and provide all the possible healthcare facility including round the clock consultation and if required hospitalization services. We are also equipped with facilities to provide critical care right at your home and are ensuring that you stay at home and safe.

We at the Metro group of hospitals are always committed to realizing the vision of providing world-class healthcare at an affordable cost and to achieve excellence in Healthcare services by offering exceptional care through state of the art technology.

The Metro Group was established in the year 1997 by Padama Vibhusan, Padma Bhusan and Dr. B C Roy National Awardee Dr. Purshotam Lal with the vision to provide world-class healthcare amenities to his countrymen at an affordable cost.

Metro Group of Hospitals are the leading healthcare centers in our country boasting an ultra-modern infrastructure providing multispeciality care by an exceptional team of healthcare professionals under the leadership of world-renowned interventional cardiologist Dr. Purshotam Lal. We at Metro hospitals provide multispecialty care for 35 specialties that include Cardiology, Gastroenterology, Nephrology, Respiratory, Oncology, Orthopaedics Joint replacement, Gastro and Bariatric Surgery, Neurology and Neurosurgery, etc. 

 Dr. Purshotam Lal is a world-renowned cardiologist who has been trained at world’s top medical institutions in UK, Germany, and USA and has been granted fellowships at American College of Cardiology; American College of Medicine; Royal College of Physicians (Canada); Indian College of Cardiology & Society for Cardiac Angiography Interventions (USA). He has been constantly innovating and has provided the world with various procedures in the field of Interventional Cardiology. He has successfully implemented these procedures and has treated thousands of patients suffering from complex heart diseases.

He made monumental contributions in the clinical development of Monodisc Device and for the first time in medical history performed heart hole (ASD) Closure on a patient from Tamil Nadu. Some of the other procedures that were performed by Dr. Purshotam Lal for the first time include

• The first case of Aortic Valve Replacement with Core Valve, without surgery on July 12, 2004.
• The 1st case in high-risk Aortic Valvuloplasty in July 1990 for the 1st time in the Medical Literature.
• Introduced INOUE Balloon, the most popular balloon for opening tight valve, for the 1st time in the country.
• Developed a new concept of “METRO CORONARY SCREENING” for the patients who have been having a phobia of conventional coronary angiography.
• Introduced more than 20 interventional procedures in the country such as Coronary Atherectomy, Slow Rotational Angioplasty, Rotablator, etc.
• Performing the largest no of angioplasties/stenting as a single operator in the world – as per HEAL Survey – the leading health magazine.

 His contributions in the field of interventional cardiology are numerous and he is constantly working to provide affordable healthcare to all.