SURGERY IN A TEMPORARY SETUP- SHARING AN EXPERIENCE OF 16 MONTHS

Abstract

This descriptive study was carried out at Combined Military Hospital Muzaffarabad after the earthquake of October 2005 over a period of 16 months when the hospital was functioning under canvas. The workload that this hospital has managed over the period despite running under tents has been highlighted. Emphasis is laid upon the importance of basic sterilization techniques, which, if followed religiously, stand good in preventing postoperative infection under compromised working conditions as well. A total of 2887 major and 7471 minor surgical procedures pertaining to the specialty of General Surgery, Orthopedics, ENT, EYE and Gynecology were carried out over a period of 16 months. Though the load was comparable to any ‘C’ class and most of the ‘B’ class hospitals, despite being under tents, there was not a single case of post operative infection. The importance of single-use-only surgical disposables in the good management of surgical patients has also been highlighted.