Victim platelet count dips, on ventilator
The 23-year-old gangrape victim underwent another surgery at Safdarjung Hospital on Sunday after which she was put on a ventilator again. Maintaining that the critical period is not yet over, doctors treating her said the next few days would be crucial.
The victim experienced respiratory distress Saturday night and had also complained of pain in her abdomen. Her respiratory rate also fell. Consequently, an ultrasound and CT scan were done Sunday morning and these showed fluid collection in the abdomen’s peritoneal cavity.
A surgery was carried out Sunday afternoon to wash out the infected fluid and additional tubes were placed to drain further infection. Family members said she looked “pale and weak today” and that “she smiled” as her father peeped into the ICU after the surgery. “The doctors said we should avoid going inside the ICU for a few hours so that she doesn’t catch any infection. However, when I peeped in, she looked at me and smiled,” the father said.
The victim had been off the ventilator since Friday but, as part of operative procedure, was again put on the ventilator. Doctors say they will try to reverse it on Monday.
The young woman’s bilirubin level continued to be on the higher side, indicating that she had jaundice, and the platelet count fell further to 19,000 from 41,000 in the morning, following which platelet replacement was carried out. “She was given four bottles of platelet plasma today. She will continue to get platelet-rich plasma and fresh frozen plasma till the time her coagulation profile becomes normal. The fall in platelet count and infection in the abdomen are the major causes of concern. A marginal difference is seen in the WBC count, which is now 5,800,” Prof. M.C. Misra, chief, AIIMS Trauma Centre, said. “She was communicating, asking about the tests, and also asked for water. She was talking to her parents. But she was in tremendous pain. The distress could have been due to pain or the infection in the abdomen,” said one of the doctors. Prof. Misra said the next few days were crucial. “Earlier we thought that the pain could be due to scaling down of antibiotics but investigations showed that she had water collection. Infection is a serious issue. Though she has done well, she remains critical. It will take another seven to 10 days for her to get reasonably stable, to give us an indication of where she is heading,” he added.
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