Shabir Hussain/Kargil (Ladakh)

When an elderly patient who had suffered a paralytic stroke was carried to the District Hospital of Kargil’s emergency, the case was referred to the hospital’s Neuro Surgeon Dr. Mohd Abbas.

Dr. Abbas realized that this 65-year-old patient had suffered from RT-sided Paralysis as the left lobe of his brain showed hematoma (Blood clot due to bleeding). He had to make some quick calculations to ensure the life of his patient is saved.

In such cases, the doctor’s quick and timely reaction is what makes the difference between life and death.

Dr. Abbas knew that his hospital is not fully equipped for conducting the risky and complicated brain surgery that his patient needs without delay. Flying him to Srinagar or Leh would mean the loss of precious time.

Dr Mohd Abbas, Dr Asif and Dr Shazia and their team operating on the patient 

After speaking with the family members of the patient and getting their nod, Dr. Abbas quickly decided to conduct the surgery on the patient. Dr. Asif and Dr. Shazia, an anesthetist, and their team members joined Dr. Abbas. The team conducted a successful "emergency neurosurgical procedure."

This is the first of its kind surgery in the hospital and it is a great achievement as such life-saving surgery is rarely done at the peripheral hospital like district hospitals.

Speaking to the media persons, Dr. Abbas said, “an elderly male patient of 65 years with RT Sided Paralysis, CT scan showing Lt Sided large brain Heamotoma was admitted to Emergency at District Hospital Kargil.  

“Seeing the seriousness of the case as well as the Non Availability of Feasible transportation to lift the patient to higher institutes and with the permission of the Family of the Patients a successful operation was conducted in an emergency by Neuro Surgical Procedure.”

Dr. Abass said his team was in constant touch with Neuro Surgeons at Srinagar’s Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical science, Saura, before and during the surgery.

He said the patient showed a positive response. He was walking without support on the next day of surgery.

He further said that the team of General Surgeons and Anesthetists at District Hospital Kargil are capable of dealing with all kinds of surgical emergencies especially during winter when Kargil remains cut off from the rest of the country.

Bashir Hussain, son of the unnamed patient, said he can’t thank the team of doctors led by Dr Mohd Abass for saving his father’s life.

An air ambulance landing at the helipad of the Kargil District Hospital

He said the district hospital at Kargil has all facilities like the higher institutions of India and above all great doctors like Dr Abbas who is “God’s gift to humanity.”.

Bashir said, that the surgery not only gave life to his father but also saved lakhs of rupees for the family. He said he realizes a similar surgery in any private hospital across India would cost lakhs of rupees to him.

Dr Haji Ali, Medical Superintendent of District hospital Kargil said that the Hospital is fully equipped with the latest types of equipment in all sections and asked the people to take benefit of the facilities.

He thanked the administration for the Helipad facility at the hospital This he said has further increased the facilities of the Hospital for the public.

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Kargil district hospital recently moved into a state of the art building and is the only one in Ladakh to have a Helipad for landing or taking off of the air ambulances