Young Worker Nearly Loses Arm After Drill Accident, Saved at KIMS Hospital

Visakhapatnam: A daily wage worker narrowly escaped death thanks to the timely efforts of doctors at KIMS Hospital, Seethammadhara. While drilling at a worksite in Seethammadhara, the drill accidentally recoiled and pierced through his right upper arm, causing a deep wound and profuse bleeding.He was immediately rushed to KIMS, where prompt surgery saved his life.

Dr. Bharath Arun, Consultant Vascular and Endovascular Surgeon at KIMS Seethammadhara, shared details of the case “The patient, a 25-year-old man, was first brought into the emergency ward.

His blood pressure was unrecordable at the time. We immediately dressed the wound and administered IV fluids and medications to stabilize him. Despite dressing, the bleeding wouldn’t stop. On further examination, I found that the brachial artery the main artery supplying blood to the arm had been completely severed.

Some muscle tissue was damaged, and even the bone was affected. The patient had already lost about a liter of blood, and blood flow to the arm had stopped.

If blood supply isn’t restored within six hours in such cases, the entire arm risks amputation. Understanding the urgency, the hospital management came forward with humanitarian consideration and arranged for the surgery at minimal cost.”

Dr. Arun further explained “Since the main artery was completely cut, we performed a bypass surgery by harvesting a healthy vein from another part of the body and connecting it between the two ends of the artery. This restored blood flow to the arm.

After completing treatment for the other injuries, the patient’s arm regained almost normal movement. The success of the surgery was confirmed once we saw full functionality return. He is expected to resume work within a week.”

He added that in such trauma cases, immediate vascular surgery is critical. Any delay in restoring blood circulation can lead to irreversible tissue damage and, ultimately, amputation. “Having a vascular surgeon and proper facilities available made it possible to save this man’s arm,” Dr. Arun concluded.