Lymphedema clinic and Regional
Replant Centre inaugurated at Kauvery Trichy
Trichy, 16th July
2024 - Kauvery Hospitals, Trichy, have achieved a remarkable milestone
by successfully performing three consecutive hand replantations within a
one-month period. All three procedures have been successful, with the patients
currently in their rehabilitation phase and expected to make a full recovery.
Two patients were young men in their 20s, while the third was in his mid-40s.
Two of these patients had their hands hacked off in vicious assaults, while the
last patient suffered a crushing amputation caused by a high-pressure hydraulic
press.
Replantations represent the pinnacle of microvascular surgery, involving
the repair of bones, tendons, nerves, and blood vessels—some only a few
millimeters in size— under a specialized operating microscope, using sutures
finer than a human hair. The Department of Plastic and Microvascular Surgery at
Kauvery Hospitals recently acquired the Zeiss Tivato microscope, one of the
best operating microscopes in the world, capable of supporting
supermicrosurgical procedures on blood vessels less than a millimeter in size.
The surgeries were performed by Dr. S. Skanda, Senior Consultant and
Head of Plastic Surgery at Kauvery Trichy, and his team, which included Dr.
Muralidhasan M., Dr. Shylesh Ramesh, and DrNB Superspeciality residents Dr.
Preethivardhan and Dr. Pratheep. The anesthesia team was led by Dr. K. Senthil
Kumar.
Replantation is a team effort that involves restoring an amputated part
of the same patient, as opposed to transplantation, which uses parts from
another donor.
On the National Plastic Surgery Day, Kauvery Trichy inaugurated two
unique services: the Kauvery Lymphedema Clinic and the Regional Replant Centre.
The Lymphedema Clinic offers comprehensive services for treating lymphedema,
ranging from compression therapy to advanced supermicrosurgical procedures,
giving new hope to patients suffering from lymphedema and its complications.
The Regional Replant Centre aims to raise public awareness that many amputated
parts can be replanted with excellent functional results, given sufficient
expertise.
Speaking on National Plastic Surgery Day, Kauvery Hospitals Executive
Director Dr. D. Senguttuvan highlighted the journey of Plastic Surgery at
Kauvery Trichy, from its establishment to its current achievements and growth.
Prof. R. Krishnamoorthy, Director of ICAPS at SIMS Hospital, Chennai, was the
Chief Guest and spoke on the value of hand and microsurgical services to
society and how they restore lives and livelihoods.
Dr. S. Skanda, Senior Consultant and Head of Plastic Surgery at Kauvery
Trichy, spoke about the unique work done by the unit over the years and its
transition to a teaching institute this academic year. Kauvery Trichy is now
the first private institution in South Tamil Nadu to offer the DrNB (Plastic
Surgery – Post MS, Superspeciality) course and only the second in Tamil Nadu to
offer the course post MS General Surgery, highlighting the academic excellence
of this elite unit.
The Replant Centre will operate 24/7, 365 days a year, serving the
population of Trichy and the Delta region. The Lymphedema Clinic will function
from Monday to Saturday, providing a new lease of hope and life to previously
neglected patients.