Mumbai: Gynaecologist Anahita Pandole brought to city hospital by road, 'critical but stable'

MUMBAI: Gynaecologist Anahita Pandole, 55, and her husband Darius, 60, who have suffered several bone injuries and lung trauma, have been shifted to the ICU of H N Reliance Hospital on Charni Road. The hospital authorities called their condition "critical but stable", and said they have to be closely monitored for the next 4-5 days.
The couple, who was in the front seats of the Mercedes at the time of the accident, was shifted from Rainbow Hospital in Vapi by ambulance on Monday morning. Looking at the lung condition of both, a decision was taken to move them by road, said sources. A green corridor was created for the cardiac ambulances sent from Mumbai with intensivists and other staffers.
Dr Tarang Gianchandani, CEO of H N Reliance Hospital, said: "Our focus currently is to stabilise them. It may take 4-5 days. They are on external support systems, including oxygen support. Only after they become stable, we can think of a surgery for Anahita." Both are in a semi-conscious condition.
Dr Tejas Shah, owner of Rainbow Hospital, said the couple was brought around 4.45pm on Sunday. Anahita didn't have a pulse, her BP was unrecordable and her oxygen levels down to 60. "She was unresponsive till 9pm. After they stabilised, we could perform a CT scan and other diagnostics," he said. She has suffered fractures in the nose, ribs, pelvic bone, and her lungs are damaged. Darius has multiple facial bone and rib fractures, and a minor brain injury. "The injuries are extensive and they will take a while to recover completely," said Shah.
Gianchandani said a team of 20-25 doctors, including intensivists, respiratory physician, and orthopaedic, vascular, gastrointestinal, thoracic and maxillofacial surgeons, are treating them. "They will require surgery but we will wait till their condition becomes stable," said Gianchandani.