Bengaluru,17 July 2025: Sometimes, life teeters on a knife’s edge, or on a rusting, unyielding length of an iron rod, as in Mr. Pavan Prathap Singh’s (name changed) case. In moments when fate seems poised to tip towards tragedy, miracles can unfold, particularly when time, medical expertise, and determination team-up together against all odds. Manipal Hospital Hebbal recently witnessed a remarkable story of survival and teamwork. Thanks to the multispecialty world-class care, 32-year-old Mr. Pavan Prathap Singh, a construction worker is on the road to recovery after a life-threatening accident.
Pavan fell from the fourth floor of a building under construction, landing directly onto exposed iron rods. The impact was devastating. One iron rod pierced through his left chest and exited from the right side of his lower abdomen, while two more rods impaled his right thigh. Quick-thinking colleagues called for help, and the rods were carefully cut so Pavan could be transported, still impaled, to a nearby hospital, and then urgently referred to Manipal Hospital, Hebbal after initial stabilization and first aid attempts.
When Pavan arrived at Manipal Hospital Hebbal, he was drowsy, in shock, and rapidly losing blood. The emergency team sprang into action. “His blood pressure was dangerously low, and he had already lost a significant amount of blood. We had to act immediately to stabilize him by starting fluids, blood transfusions, and medications to support his heart,” recalls Dr. Rajendra Kumar, Critical Care Consultant, Manipal Hospital Hebbal.
Within an hour, a multidisciplinary team including Dr. Rajendra Kumar and Dr. Neeraj Chopda (Critical care consultants), Dr. Bharathi Bhat and Dr. Murali Krishna (Cardiothoracic Surgeon), Dr. Sunil Sudarshan and Dr. Anand N S (Gastro Surgeons), Dr. Navinchandra Joyappa Dambekodi and Dr. Manoj (Orthopaedic Surgeons), Dr. Manish Pai (Neurosurgeon), Dr. Vishnu Motukuru (Vascular Surgeon), Dr. Mohammad Ataullah Khan S (Pulmonologist), Dr. Vikram (Urologist), Dr. Chandrashekar Uppin, Dr. Sindhu and Dr. Sushma (Anaesthetists) and Dr. Prajwal C, Dr. Ajmal. Dr. Nisha and Dr. Mahesh (Emergency Specialists) assembled for an emergency operation. “It was a race against time. We knew every minute counted,” says Dr. Rajendra Kumar states.
Elaborating the tense moments in the operating theatre, Dr. Bharathi Bhat recalls, “The surgery was complex and delicate. One of the rods had missed Pavan’s heart by just half a centimeter. While removing it, I had to gently push his heart aside with my hand to prevent any injury. It was a very close call—any wrong move could have been fatal.”
Simultaneously, the general and orthopaedic surgeons worked to safely remove the other rods and repair injuries to Pavan’s abdomen and thigh. The team discovered and managed multiple internal injuries, including damage to his right kidney, a fractured pelvic bone, and partial blockage of a major vein. Post-surgery, Pavan was placed on a ventilator and closely monitored in the ICU.
The next day, as his condition improved, Pavan was taken off the ventilator and gradually stabilized. “The timing and coordination of the whole team were crucial. He was brought to us at the right moment, and everyone responded without delay. That’s what saved his life.” emphasizes Dr. Rajendra.
The following eleven days Mr. Pavan recovered in the intensive care unit under meticulous and vigilant watch of multidisciplinary team. Pavan was later discharged in a stable condition. He continues to recover, surrounded by his family and grateful colleagues.
Pavan’s survival is more than a miracle. His case stands as a shining example of how Manipal Hospital, Hebbal’s commitment to clinical excellence, multidisciplinary teamwork, and advanced medical care can transform even the gravest emergencies into stories of hope and healing.