Patient intubated by doctor on oxygen support succumbs

Surat: For Dr Sanket Mehta, 37, who is still in the semi-critical condition, the festival of Janmasthami brought bad news on Wednesday evening. The elderly patient whom he intubated in the ICU of BAPS hospital in Adajan succumbed to the deadly virus.
While on the high-flow oxygen support and fighting the coronavirus infection, Dr Mehta risked his life for the critically-ill Dinesh Purani, 71, on August 9. Purani required urgent intubation for the ventilator support. Dr Mehta, who was just two beds away from the elderly patient in the ICU, removed his oxygen support and successfully intubated him.
Authorities at the BAPS Hospital stated that Purani breathed his last on Wednesday evening. The news of Purani’s death was given to Dr Mehta later that night.
According to the doctors, Dr Mehta was on the six-litre per minute oxygen flow and his requirement has increased to eight litres per minute since Wednesday evening, after the death of Purani.
CEO of BAPS Hospital, Dr Parshottam Koradia told TOI, “We could not save the elderly patient intubated by Dr Mehta. I personally informed Dr Mehta about the incident. Though he was unable to talk, his facial expressions were enough for me to understand that he was deeply saddened by the news.”
Talking with TOI, vice-president of Surat Anaesthetists Association (SAA), Dr Hiral Shah said, “Entire doctors’ fraternity is praying for the speedy recovery of Dr Mehta, whose condition is semi-critical.”