Saving Lakshmi: Doctor recalls miracle surgery

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Published on Fri, Nov 09, 2007 at 00:07, Updated at Fri, Nov 09, 2007 in Health section

Dr Sharan Shivraj Patil, who lead the team of doctors which gave two-year-old Laksmi a new life by removing her ‘parasitic’ twin, doesn’t believe doctors are God but only his instruments to heal and cure people.

Lakshmi, who had eight limbs, is recovering after the marathon surgery at Bangalore’s Sparsh Hospital. And Dr Patil, Chairman, Chief Of Orthopaedics, Sparsh Hospital, has been flooded with congratulatory messages from the world over.

In a chat with IBNLive readers on Thursday evening, Dr Patil admitted he was nervous before the surgery but took it up as a challenge. “What I had was a good kind of nervousness but the sheer conference on my team skills made us go ahead and take up this challenge,” he said.

“Medicine is all about having the right attitude towards other human beings,” he said. (Excerpts from the chat)

The challenge

BSR: What was the amount of risk involved in this operation?

Dr Sharan Shivraj Patil: There was about 25 percent risk of losing Lakshmi while operating on her. Lakshmi’s parents knew about this and took the brave decision to go ahead. The lesson here is to look at the positive 75 percent rather than the negative 25 percent.

Suman: What made you to do this operation? Did you regard it as a challenge?

Dr Sharan Shivraj Patil: Lakshmi’s plight, the challenge and a personal sense of fulfillment.

Vinu: What is in your mind when you lead this operation?

Dr Sharan Shivraj Patil: Honestly, I was nervous. But it was the good kind of nervousness before major undertaking. I had great confidence in my team to pull this through.

Philip Joshua: What was the most intricate part in the whole surgical process?

Dr Sharan Shivraj Patil: Thanks, several steps were delicate but the most thrilling part was when the Laksmi’s parasitic twin was disengaged.

Arghya Chatterjee: Is Lakhsmi comfortable with only two hands and legs?

Dr Sharan Shivraj Patil: Yes, the extra limbs she had were a big hindrance.

Vat: Dear doctor, you played it as a team and when you wanted to show the world that ‘we can do it’ did you have any apprehension or prejudice?

Dr Sharan Shivraj Patil: What I had was a good kind of nervousness but the sheer conference on my team skills made us go ahead and take up this challenge.

Life ahead for Lakshmi

K Sangeetha: There is a saying that ‘God cannot be everywhere that is why he created doctors’. This is true for Lakshmi’s doctors.

Dr Sharan Shivraj Patil: Thanks, I don’t think doctors can be equated to God. We all do the very best of the talent god has given us. We only help to heal—we doctors are God’s instruments.

Ursula Pamela Ahmed: I would like to know would this little girl be able to lead a normal life?

Dr Sharan Shivraj Patil: Thanks, we expect Lakshmi to be a normal child and an adult.

Kallol Biswas: Dr Patil, you make all Indians and me proud. I was based in Singapore a few years back and doctors there tried to separate conjoined Iranian twins. That operation was unsuccessful and the twins died. Are you familiar with that case and if so can you say whether that operation was similar to the one that you have performed? (Ladan Bijani and Laleh Bijani died in Singapore in 2003)

Dr Sharan Shivraj Patil: Thanks, I am familiar with that case. In our case we had only a single living twin to deal with, and so had no ethical issues.

Murthy: I watched Lakshmi’s story on CNN here in the US. The successful surgery gives India’s potential global recognition. I was proud to watch this.

Dr Sharan Shivraj Patil: I know how you feel sitting in the US about anything good coming out of India—I have been in your shoes. I promise you we will make you proud of India.

Soumya Sen: Would Lakshmi require psychological rehabilitation after the surgery? How well will adapt to these sudden physical changes?

Dr Sharan Shivraj Patil: I think we would not have any major difficulty in this regard.

Doctor’s advice

Kanishk Agnihotri: Sir, I am a medical student and I am truly inspired by your work. What is your message for students like me?

Dr Sharan Shivraj Patil: As a young medical student I am sure your attention is to acquire all the knowledge. But medical practice is all about having the right attitude towards other human beings. Never lose the human touch.

Pendael Mzonge: I am a medical student in Tanzania and would like to say that you are my inspiration now.

Dr Sharan Shivraj Patil: Thanks, I wish you, the very best of luck and the only advice I have for you to have a human face in everything you do.

Dr Graham Coates-Gibson: As a fellow doctor, I bow to your skill, courage and faith, and those of your colleagues. Please explain why it was necessary to wait until Lakshmi was two before attempting the separation? Whatever the reasons, rest assured that your place in the catalogue of great men of history is assured. May God bless all of you.

Dr Sharan Shivraj Patil: Thanks Graham, it is a great joy to get such an extraordinary compliment from a colleague. I saw the child for the first time two months ago. I am sure if the child had got medical attention earlier the surgery could well have been attempted earlier.

Helping Lakshmi

Anil: Is it not a good idea to raise some funds for Lakshmi which might take care of any complications she may have in the future?

Dr Sharan Shivraj Patil: Raising funds will definitely help us to do similar things in the future and may be help Lakshmi too.

Amina Yasmeen: What are your plans for the kid?

Dr Sharan Shivraj Patil: At the moment we are focused on getting the child off the ventilator, which could happen in the next 24 hours. We should be able to rehabilitate the child, so that the she can walk.

Tulika and Rahul of Care My Colostomy, a support group for congenital defects: What will happen to Laksmi after she goes back to her village in Bihar. Is their any possibility of getting a job for Laxmi’s father in Bangalore? It will certainly help to keep regular updates on the child’s progress.

Dr Sharan Shivraj Patil: We have already thought about this matter and ideally we want rehabilitate Lakshmi and put her back into society as soon as possible. It is a tough job but we are working on it. We are also looking to place Shambu (Lakshmi’s father) in a suitable job till such a time. We welcome volunteers to give him a suitable job.