KOCHI: On a January night, some good samaritans rushed 23-year-old Bibin Benny to the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church (MOSC) Medical College, Kolenchery, after a road accident in Muvattupuzha. The right half of his face was dangling and his condition was critical. Survival looked bleak. “Normally, when just the face is injured in an accident, the chances of survival are great,” said Dr Sanoop Koshy Zachariah, professor of surgery, (Department of General, Gastrointestinal and Laparoscopic surgery), MOSC Medical College.
“But in Bibin’s case, there had been severe blood loss to the extent that his blood pressure was barely recognisable and his pulse was very low. He was going into haemorrhagic shock and needed medicines to keep his heart beating,” said Dr Sanoop. After a four-hour surgery, a team headed by Dr Sanoop and comprising maxillofacial surgeon Suresh Vyloppilli and plastic surgeon Vinayak N Sutar not only saved the Arthunkal native, but also restored and repaired his face to near-perfection. “The face has healed. Bibin is now performing all normal activities, including attending college,” said Dr Sanoop.
A statement from the hospital said such cases of major facial injury leading to massive blood loss are rare in road traffic accidents.