THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Shortage of anaesthetists in Thiruvananthapuram medical college badly hit cardiac surgeries. At the moment only 14 to 15 surgeries are being carried out in medical college in a week. There’s just one anaesthetist and assistants for two operation theatres where surgeries including bypass, valve replacements, congenital problems and treatment of other cardiac complications are undertaken. Currently, the waiting period for different types of surgeries runs up to six months and more.
According to MCH doctors, there is only one anaesthetist who is deputed for the cardio thoracic surgery and he is assisted by a couple of assistants. There are two operation theatres where most cardiac surgeries take place at the medical college. According to doctors at the cardio thoracic department there is a need for appointing two more anaesthetists exclusively for operation theatres carrying out cardiac surgeries. The increase in number of anaesthetics would help in doubling the number of surgeries at these theatres. “We are doing about 15 surgeries every week. Once we get two more anaesthetics it will be possible to carry out 30 or more surgeries,” said a doctor.
The process of picking anaesthetists has already begun with interviews of 320 candidates having already been done. However, the deployment is yet to take place. MCH authorities said steps were being taken to increase the strength of anaesthetists and once the deployment is completed. The shortage of anaesthetists comes close on the heels of the reports regarding non payment of dues to companies supplying stents and pacemakers. The delay in payment has adversely affected cardiac surgeries and procedures at the Trivandrum Medical College hospital. The companies have claimed that the medical college hospitals owe dues ranging from Rs 30 lakh to Rs 12 crore. With the existing stock at the hospital only enough for carrying out surgeries till this week, the surgical procedures are likely to come to a halt next week.
