On April 17, 2023, Anurag Maloo, a mountaineer from Kishangarh, Rajasthan, faced a nightmarish ordeal during an expedition on Mount Annapurna in Nepal. While descending from Camp III, he fell from an altitude of around 6,000 meters into a 70-meter-deep avalanche-prone crevasse. He survived in the crevasse for three days before being rescued.
Initial Treatment
After his rescue, Maloo was first taken to a nearby medical camp, then to Manipal Hospital in Pokhara, and later to Kathmandu’s Medicity Hospital. Despite the initial treatment, his condition remained critical.
The Journey to AIIMS
On May 11, Maloo was airlifted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Jai Prakash Narayan Apex Trauma Centre in Delhi, where he was admitted under the Department of Plastic Reconstructive Surgery.
The Injuries
Maloo's injuries were extensive and severe. He had severe frostbite on both hands, gangrenous thumbs, multiple affected fingers, gangrenous toes on both feet, as well as extensive cold-induced deep burns on his trunk. Additionally, he suffered from subclavian artery blockage on the right side and multiple deep venous blockages in one lower limb. His condition was further complicated by acute kidney injury and pleural effusion with infected wounds.
What is Frostbite
Frostbite is a skin injury that occurs when the skin and underlying tissues freeze, typically due to exposure to extremely low temperatures. It commonly affects the fingers, toes, nose, ears, cheeks, and chin areas.
The initial symptoms of frostbite include a feeling of cold and tingling or numbing, followed by skin that looks red, white, bluish-white, grayish-yellow, purplish, brown, or ashen, depending on the severity of the condition and usual skin color. As frostbite worsens, the skin may become hard or waxy-looking.
Frostbite occurs in several stages:
1. **Frostnip**: This is a mild form of frostbite where there is no permanent damage to the skin. Symptoms include cold skin and a prickling feeling.
2. **Superficial Frostbite**: This stage causes slight changes in skin color. The skin may begin to feel warm — a sign of serious skin involvement. A fluid-filled blister may appear 12 to 36 hours after rewarming the skin.
3. **Deep (Severe) Frostbite**: This stage affects all layers of the skin as well as the tissues that lie below. The skin turns white or blue-gray and you lose all sensation of cold, pain, or discomfort in the area. Large blisters form 24 to 48 hours after rewarming. The tissue turns black and hard as it dies.
Treatment for frostbite involves rewarming, medication, and sometimes surgery. It's important to seek medical attention if you suspect you have frostbite.
The Recovery
Under expert multidisciplinary care at AIIMS, Maloo's journey towards recovery commenced with numerous reconstructive surgeries and comprehensive medical interventions. Between May 13 and September 23, he underwent seven surgeries for infection control and later reconstructive surgery for his wounds by skin grafting. At AIIMS, Maloo was managed by a multidisciplinary team involving specialties such as plastic surgery, critical care, anesthesiology, cardiology, nephrology, trauma surgery, ENT, psychiatry, and urology.
The Miracle
After a five-month stay at AIIMS, Maloo was discharged from the hospital. He credits his miraculous recovery to the doctors and staff at AIIMS, who he says not only provided him medical care but also emotional support. "If I’m able to stand today and talk about my miraculous recovery, it’s only because of the doctors and staff at AIIMS who have treated and taken care of me for the past 174 days. For me, they are truly gods," said Maloo.
The Future
Maloo is now looking forward to starting over again, once his body permits. He has expressed his desire to climb mountains again if his body is fully capable of doing so. His story is a testament to the human spirit's resilience and the miracles that dedicated medical care can achieve.
Conclusion
Anurag Maloo's story is a powerful reminder of the incredible work that medical professionals do every day. Their dedication and expertise gave Maloo a second chance at life, and his story will continue to inspire many more.
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