Ahmedabad Civil Hospital has successfully performed a high-risk total hip replacement on a woman with Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP), a rare blood disorder that significantly increases the risk of excessive bleeding during surgery, hospital officials said on Saturday.
The patient, Sangeeta Trivedi, a resident of Uttar Pradesh, underwent the complex procedure free of cost at the government-run hospital after reportedly being informed by several private hospitals that the surgery would cost between Rs 3 lakh and Rs 5 lakh and carried a high risk because of her medical condition.
Medical Superintendent Dr. Rakesh Joshi said the successful surgery by the Department of Orthopaedics demonstrated the capability of government hospitals to provide highly specialised treatment for complex medical conditions.
"The Department of Orthopaedics has successfully performed a Total Hip Replacement on a patient suffering from Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP). This achievement once again demonstrates that government hospitals are capable of delivering world-class, highly complex medical treatment successfully," he said.
Professor Dr. Piyush Mittal from the Department of Orthopaedics said Trivedi had been living with ITP for a long time.
"The disorder causes a critically low platelet count, making patients highly susceptible to severe bleeding during surgical procedures because platelets are essential for blood clotting," he explained.
According to Dr. Mittal, prolonged steroid therapy used to treat her ITP led to Avascular Necrosis (AVN), severely damaging her hip joint. As her condition worsened, total hip replacement became the only viable option to restore her mobility.
After approaching several private hospitals, where the surgery was estimated to cost several lakhs and was considered high-risk due to the possibility of life-threatening bleeding, Trivedi sought treatment at Ahmedabad Civil Hospital.
Doctors carried out a comprehensive evaluation and developed a multidisciplinary treatment plan involving the Departments of Orthopaedics, Haematology, Anaesthesia, and the Blood Bank before proceeding with the surgery.
During the operation, Professor Dr. Shakuntala and the anaesthesia team played a crucial role in managing the patient's condition. To reduce the risk of excessive bleeding, the patient received five units of platelets, one unit of Fresh Frozen Plasma (FFP), and one unit of Packed Cell Volume (PCV).
The planned blood component support enabled doctors to control bleeding and successfully complete the total hip replacement.
Hospital officials said Trivedi is recovering well and remains in stable condition. They added that she has been relieved of severe hip pain and is now able to walk independently and carry out her daily activities, significantly improving her quality of life after prolonged illness and limited mobility.
With Inputs From Ians