Fortis Hospital Shalimar Bagh observes National Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Day

New Delhi: To commemorate the National Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Day, Dr. Richie Gupta, HOD and Sr. Consultant, and Dr. Rajat Gupta, Consultant, Department of Plastic, Cosmetic & Reconstructive Surgery, Fortis Hospital Shalimar Bagh brought forth patients, who displayed tremendous strength of character and courage, and have survived challenges thrown at them.

Komal was born into a family from Madhya Pradesh. Ever since Komal became aware of her body, she felt that something was wrong. While her physical body (sex) was female, her mind (gender) was essentially male. As a result, she felt herself to be a man trapped in a woman's body. After living in this condition for several years she confided in her family. Her family advised her to resolve this conflict by seeking correct treatment. Her search revealed that Dr. Richie Gupta and Dr. Rajat Gupta at the Gender Identity Clinic, at Fortis Hospital Shalimar Bagh have treated a large number of patients with Gender Dysphoria. The Gender Identity Clinic at FHSB treats a large number of transsexuals every year. They receive around 35 new cases every year and perform around 60 operations yearly. The patient management is largely based on 7th Standards of Care (7th SOCs), as specified by WPATH (World Professional Association for Transgender Health).

Arvind was presented to Dr. Gupta as an accident victim with a severely damaged body below his waist. Having fallen off his two-wheeler, Arvind was run over by a truck trolley which smashed his lower limb and a major portion of his lower abdomen and genitalia. With parts of his body hanging from his waist level, he posed a challenge to Dr. Gupta and his team. He faces life today with multiple surgeries having reconstructed his body and saved his life.

In yet another case of clinical excellence, a patient born with a malformed body was reconstructed. Piyush was born with a malformed pelvic girdle, a condition known as Exstrophy/ Epispadias, which occurs 3.3 times in every 100000 live births.  Though operated in childhood, his pelvic bones were wide apart. He presented a unique challenge, to bring his pelvic bones together, without injuring the pelvic organs and without affecting his gait. The team took help of 3D printing technology to solve this puzzle. Today, at the threshold of a new lease, Piyush looks forward to leading a normal life, getting settled down and fathering children.

Manpreet sustained an accidental stab injury to his right thigh. The location was junction of Femoral triangle with Hunter’s canal, a place where femoral artery and vein lie in front and back. The stab wounds at this location are usually lethal, because of severe blood loss, due to division of both these structures. By the time, the patient reached Fortis, his BP was un-recordable. He was not only saved, today, he is able to walk on this leg.

When the car that Anish was driving had a head on collision with a heavy vehicle, his last thoughts before passing out, were, that he would not survive. He sustained severe facial and head injuries. The right side of his face had split with bilateral fractures of upper jaw and # lower jaw. He was operated with fixation of facial fractures and suturing of multiple wounds. He is currently undergoing physiotherapy.

When the wheel of a car passed over his son’s foot, Sohan could only think of the worst. His fears were confirmed, when, he saw his 3 years old child’s foot. There was crush avulsion injury of foot with loss of skin, soft tissues and tendons. Bare bones were visible. Fortis team transferred a microvascular free flap from left thigh to restore the surface of right foot, joining the tiny foot vessels to flap vessels, in a 4 hour procedure. Today, he is able to walk on this foot.

Dr. Richie Gupta HOD and Sr. Consultant, Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery said, “On an average I operate on about 30 patients a year. It is a challenge for us every time we are presented with a patient who needs to be reconstructed. It engages our creativity also to be able to recreate a body part to bring a normal look to it.”

Dr Richie Gupta, added, “Gender identity refers to a person’s internal sense of being male, female or something else; gender expression refers to the way a person communicates gender identity to others through behavior, clothing, hairstyles, voice or body characteristics. Many experts believe that biological factors such as genetic influences and prenatal hormone levels, early experiences, and experiences later in adolescence or adulthood may all contribute to the development of transgender identities.”

Mr. Simmardeep Singh, Zonal Director, Fortis Shalimar Bagh said, “Plastic and Reconstructive   surgeries require utmost skill and expertise. They also require a high amount of confidentiality and sensitivity towards patients. Dr. Gupta is excelling in an area which is dynamic and ever-changing with newer techniques and procedures and can be explored endlessly. With his achievements we are sure we will achieve a few milestones and make a mark in this field.”