Media Release

Udupi, Apr 26: In an endeavour and to uphold commitment towards being socially responsible, Kasturba Hospital has helped and treated many burn victims and patient successfully. In fact the Hospital has provided affordable and quality services to the needy through their exclusive and dedicated facility that was established four decades ago for the treatment of burn victims.

The hallmark of the burns centre is the wholesome care provided with a multi-disciplinary approach with an emphasis on optimal recovery and rehabilitation so as to reintegrate the victims back into the society in order to lead a normal life.

There are some heart-warming cases of victims who have got new lease of life at the burn centre, Sunita a homemaker from Maharashtra was cooking in the kitchen when her clothes caught fire. More than half her body was burnt including her face and both hands. She was brought to Kasturba Hospital after 5 days and was barely conscious. Through early surgery and skin transplantation doctors managed to bring her back from the brink and she was breathing with the help of ventilator for several days. After a few days she was able to walk and after 10 surgeries and other intensive treatment of medical, mental, and physical rehabilitation, she is now back home with her husband and two children happy to get her life back.

Ramesh, a school teacher from a Kundapur met with an unfortunate accident with his gas geyser which resulted in all three members of his family getting burnt. The worst affected was his son and himself. Most of his face chest legs and hands were burnt. He was immediately brought to Kasturba Hospital burns centre. He suffered from various other problems such as diabetes, hypertension and problematic breathing. Once again early surgery with skin transplantation brought him back from a very dire situation when he was sinking into severe infection. Several days of mechanical ventilation had to be provided since his breathing was not sufficient to keep him alive. Gradually he recovered with his wounds healing and him getting back on him feet, albeit with a loss of 15-20 kgs of body weight. He managed to survive fighting not only against his devastating wounds but also the loss of his only son to the same accident.

Suresh is a school going boy whose father is a CRPF Jawan posted far away from home in North India. While his mother was not at home, he attempted to prepare tea for himself and his clothes accidentally caught fire. He ran out of his house still ablaze where the passers-by came to his rescue and put out the flames and rushed him to a nearby hospital. Several days later he was brought to Kasturba burns centre with his wounds festering with infectious bacteria. His stay in hospital was a heart rending struggle. Due to wounds both on the front and back of his chest, he had to stay sitting up for days without being able to lie down. He stayed in our burns centre for nearly 3 months undergoing nearly 12 surgical procedures and intensive medical and physical rehabilitation to finally get back to his school and regular playful days. This brave boy like his father showed tremendous courage and strength to fight against great odds in order to survive.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Shree Kumar, HOD Burn Centre, Kasturba Hospital said, “These stories of survival are not rare or uncommon. Infact, our burns centre has some of the best survival rates in India, despite being in a part of the world where the hot and humid environment increase chances of infections. While otherwise patients succumb to severe infection, at our burns centre the adherence to strict barrier and nursing techniques, patient isolation, aseptic precautions and disciplined antibiotic policies keep the infection rates low. The introduction of early surgery to remove the toxic dead burnt skin and skin transplantation made a big change to our patients surviving despite large burnt areas. “

Dr Avinash Shetty, medical superintendent, Kasturba Hospital Manipal said, “An estimated 1, 80,000 deaths every year are caused by burns – the vast majority occur in low- and middle-income countries. Non-fatal burn injuries are a leading cause of morbidity. Burns occur mainly in the home and workplace. Burns are preventable.”