Lokayukta saved in nick of time

Lokayukta Justice P Vishwanatha Shetty may not have survived if he was brought in half an hour late to the hospital, says Mallya Hospital's chief cardiothoracic surgeon, Dr Divakar Bhat.

"He was brought on time, but with considerable blood loss and a puncture wound to his lung causing restricted breathing. Had he been brought in a little late, things would have been different,'' Dr Bhat added.

The incident took place at 1.50 pm and Justice Shetty was brought in around 2 pm in a car from the Lokayukta office on Ambedkar Veedhi by his subordinates, including registrar Nanjundaswamy. Nanjundaswamy coordinated the quick 1.7-kilometre journey through Cubbon Park keeping in mind the city's heavy traffic.

"Involvement by everyone around Justice Shetty since the time of the incident, including senior doctors who were present at Mallya Hospital, saved him. The doctors were fast in their judgement to take him to the operating theatre (OT) and conducted surgeries till 7  pm," Dr Bhat told DH.

Justice Shetty sustained 11 stab injuries of which two were life-threatening deep cuts to his chest and abdomen. The stab on his chest resulted in lung puncture, internal bleeding and fracture of two ribs and the stab on his abdomen caused internal bleeding with cut injuries to his stomach, Dr Bhat said.

There was a through and through stab injury to the palm of the left hand, and a muscle-deep stab injury to his right thigh. Seven other stab and slash injuries were inflicted on his cheek where he had a small cut, a cut over the left lumbar region, a cut over the right chest, a small cut over the left ring finger and a few abrasions to his forehead, Dr Bhat said.

It was a challenge for doctors, who had to tackle the 73-year-old Justice Shetty's already present medical condition like diabetes and a past surgical history of a cardiac bypass procedure done 13 years ago. Moreover, he was on blood-thinning medication as well.