Hyderabad: 17-year-old attack victim still battling for life

Hyderabad: The teen who was stabbed on Wednesday was in a critical condition about 36 hours after the attack, doctors said on Thursday. After 15 transfusions of blood and blood products, doctors managed to make the victim haemodynamically stable by build enough pressure in her circulatory system.

Yashoda Hospital, Malakpet, chief operating officer Dr Vijay Kumar said the victim’s haemoglobin  level was about 3 grams per decilitre when she was brought in against the minimum normal of about 12 grams per decilitre.

Her blood pressure was too weak to register due to the blood loss she suffered following the savage attack on her by Chitkuri Bharath, her stalker.

She is now in a condition where treatment for her wounds can begin. Doctors are waiting for reports before they can begin surgeries. “She needs more blood,” said Dr Kumar.

She has sustained deep cuts to her head, neck, shoulder, back and arms. She is unconscious and on mechanical ventilator support.

A team of specialists including a neurosurgeon, vascular surgeon, ortho surgeon, general and spine surgeon and a plastic surgeon supervised by team of anesthesia specialists were treating the victim.

“We have to check the brain status and other injuries.  As multiple organs are involved, it is a very complicated case,” Dr Kumar said.

Neurosurgeon Dr B. Srinivas said, “We have conducted MRI and CT scans to access her brain health. From the MRI we got to know that she has sustained a diffuse axonal injury (DAI), an injury to the brain. The CT scan showed there was pressure on a blood vessel which supplies blood to brain.”

“If her tests are normal we will conduct surgery by Thursday evening. She was not in a condition to be operated upon now. We are waiting to improve her condition,” Dr Srinivas said.

Dr Naresh from the Intensive Care Unit said that the billhook which Bharath used to attack her was rusted. “The tiny rust particles might have entered the blood vessels and could cause infection which could lead to multi-organ failure. If this condition arises, her stay in the hospital will be prolonged.”