65% Burns Survivor Gets a Second Chance at Life at Father Muller Hospital
Mangaluru: In a remarkable story of resilience and medical expertise, a patient who sustained deep thermal burns covering 65% of his body has recovered and returned to work following treatment at Father Muller Medical College Hospital (FMMCH), Mangaluru. His recovery highlights the importance of specialised burn care, multidisciplinary teamwork and cadaveric skin grafting in treating severe burn injuries.
Mr Suresh (name changed), a native of Chikkamagaluru, sustained extensive deep thermal burns following an accidental petrol spill at his workplace. He was in critical condition when he arrived at the hospital and required immediate resuscitation, intensive monitoring and specialised burn care.
The Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery played a key role in his treatment. The team, led by Dr. Aravind Rao, Professor and Head of the Department, included Dr. Karthik Aithal, Associate Professor; Dr. Akanksha Rajpoot, Assistant Professor; and senior residents Dr. Chetna, Dr. Manasa and Dr. Ragavi. They coordinated his initial stabilisation and a series of staged surgical procedures.
Cadaveric skin grafting was performed during the initial phase of treatment, followed by grafting using the patient’s own skin. This staged approach helped protect the wounds, support healing and prepare them for definitive treatment. With sustained medical attention and dedicated care, Suresh gradually recovered from his life-threatening injuries and has now returned to work.
Expressing his gratitude, Suresh thanked the doctors, nurses and the entire hospital team for their dedicated care and support throughout his treatment and recovery.
An important resource in the hospital’s management of severe burn injuries is the Father Muller Rotary Skin Bank, established in collaboration with Rotary Mangalore. The skin bank helps make cadaveric skin grafts available to patients at subsidised rates, strengthening the institution’s capacity to treat extensive burns.
Cadaveric skin grafts serve as temporary wound coverings, helping protect damaged tissue and reduce complications while patients undergo further treatment, including definitive grafting with their own skin, where required.
The institution has called for greater public awareness and participation in skin donation. Increased donations could help make this valuable resource available to more patients with extensive burns, improving their prospects of recovery.
Rev. Fr Faustine Lucas Lobo, Director of Father Muller Charitable Institutions (FMCI), and Rev. Fr George Jeevan Sequeira, Administrator of FMMCH, expressed their happiness at Suresh’s recovery. They noted that his return to work would enable him to resume his responsibilities as a provider for his family. His recovery, they said, reflects the institution’s commitment to compassionate, specialised and patient-centred healthcare.
The successful outcome also underscores the coordinated efforts of doctors, technicians, nurses and allied healthcare professionals who provide comprehensive care to critically ill patients.
Supported by the facilities and expertise of the hospital’s Burn Intensive Care Unit (BICU), the multidisciplinary team continues to offer hope to patients facing severe medical emergencies.
For Suresh, the journey from a life-threatening condition to returning to work represents more than a medical recovery. It marks a renewed opportunity to rebuild his life and continue caring for his family.