Niloufer makes no headway

Meghanien Dutta / TNN / Jan 22, 2007, 01:47 IST

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Niloufer Hospital authorities have thrown up their hands in despair suggesting that they do not have the expertise to conduct the complex surgery.

HYDERABAD: When child surgeon Y Nayudamma retired in early 2006, conjoined twins Vani and Veena were under his care at the Guntur Government Hospital.
With three successful surgeries �� performed in the last 10 years �� under his belt, Nayudamma volunteered to see the case through.
But the bureaucractic procedures wouldn't allow him that, so the twins were moved to Niloufer Hospital in the city.
N C K Reddy, the superintendent of the hospital, which is notorious for the high number of infant mortality cases, declared cockily at that time that there was no reason to despair and he would personally ensure the separation surgery of the carniophagus twins.

Almost close to a year, Niloufer Hospital authorities have thrown up their hands in despair suggesting that they do not have the necessary equipment or expertise to conduct the complex surgery.
Reddy meanwhile, has been purged in one of those kneejerk reactions following a spate of infant deaths in the hospital.
The operating team of doctors last fortnight met with top neuro-surgeons of the city to discuss the case and share their concerns.

During the meet, the Niloufer specialists were left searching for answers on pointed queries. "We do not have enough expertise and experienced doctors in the hospital to handle such a complex case by ourselves," admitted A Bharathi, head of paediatric surgery at Niloufer.
"Such surgeries are very complex, requiring latest equipment like operating microscope, on-table cerebral angiogram to be done during the surgery and basic neurosurgical instruments none of which Niloufer hospital has. The surgery obviously cannot be done there," Dr R Chandrasekhar Naidu, neuro-surgeon, KIMS hospital, who was consulted for the case owing to his experience of conducting a similar surgery in Mangalore, told TOI.
"Now, we need fresh MRI and CT scans of the girls to see the extent to which the vessels in the brain are being shared after which we can plan the method of surgery," Naidu added.
The hospital does not have these latest machines despite promises by the state government to provide it in Dec. last year.
"We have to take the help of doctors from the private sector. Consultations are going on and we are getting in touch with more neuro and plastic surgeons," added Dr P Bharathi. The girls weigh only 18 kgs, which is too less for them to withstand the surgery and doctors say that they have to wait for them to put on more weight.
So why were the conjoined twins �� now three-years-old �� brought to Niloufer in the first place ?

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