'Praveen’s case was complex due to multiple injuries'

Treating Praveen, the 11-year-old boy who died after being mauled by a pack of strays on Saturday, had been very complex and challenging, doctors have said.

Locals who found Praveen bleeding near the Vibhutipura lake on Wednesday rushed the boy to the Vibhutipura government hospital at KR Puram. On Thursday, he was shifted to Manipal Hospital with help from BBMP officials and Mayor R Sampath Raj.

Doctors at Manipal Hospital revealed that the boy was brought in in an extremely critical condition and they had to perform complex surgeries stretching for hours together. "He had injuries on his scalp, face, neck, chest, arms and legs. The entire team of pediatric doctors was involved in his treatment," said Anoop Amarnath, chief of medical services, Manipal Hospital.

He noted that while every stray animal attack case has its own complexity, Praveen's case had its own share of complications since his body had sustained too many injuries.

With septic shock and multiple organ failure, Praveen was kept at the pediatric Intensive Care Unit. "He was also on advanced life support system, including Extra-corporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) and Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy (CRRT)," Amarnath added.

Until Saturday evening, Praveen's condition was critical and doctors declared him dead at 11.15 pm.