Patiala, 25 December
Park Hospital in Patiala has successfully saved the life of former Punjab Police Inspector General (IG) Amar Singh Chahal, who was rushed to the emergency department with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the chest. The patient suffered a bullet entry wound on the left side of the chest and an exit wound on the back, resulting in massive blood loss of approximately 1.5 litres.
A multidisciplinary team, led by CTVS Surgeon Dr. Sidharth Garg, with critical anaesthesia support from Dr. Arjun Pratap Joshi and surgical assistance from Dr. Gurjot Singh, performed a complex 3-4 hour emergency surgery to repair a torn lung and stabilise chest wall fractures.
Dr. Sidharth Garg noted that survival rates for chest gunshot injuries are typically 30-40%, depending on the severity and internal damage. In this case, the family’s decision to bring the patient to the nearest super-specialty facility in Patiala—rather than transferring him to a distant centre in Chandigarh—proved crucial in saving his life. Prompt resuscitation and immediate intervention were key factors in the positive outcome.
Upon arrival, the patient was in critical condition and was immediately moved to the ICU for life-saving resuscitation and intubation. General Surgeon Dr. Gurjot Singh urgently inserted an Intercostal Drain (ICD). A CT scan assessed the injuries, after which emergency surgery was performed. With all routine operation theatres occupied, a special theatre was prepared urgently, showcasing the hospital’s rapid response to trauma cases.
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Surgery revealed multiple rib fractures and a large tear in the left lung. The bullet had passed perilously close to the heart and major blood vessels, heightening the risk. Extensive lung damage and severe bleeding further complicated the procedure.
Post-surgery, the patient remained on ventilator support in the CTVS ICU for two days before being successfully extubated. He is now stable, off the ventilator, and tolerating a soft diet. Doctors anticipate full recovery within about one week.
Col. Rajul Sharma, Chief Executive Officer of Park Hospital stated that the 450-bed facility—with 150 ICU beds—is equipped with advanced trauma and critical care infrastructure, modular operation theatres, and dedicated CTVS and ICU units. He emphasised that 24/7 availability of specialised teams, multidisciplinary coordination, and swift emergency response were instrumental in this life-saving effort.
Hospital officials added that such high-risk surgeries require a comprehensive tertiary-care setup with round-the-clock advanced infrastructure, technology, and expertise. Medical statistics show mortality rates for chest gunshot injuries reaching the hospital range from 14-37%, varying with injury severity and intervention quality. Timely arrival, rapid diagnosis, expert surgery, and intensive critical care were decisive here.
