6-year-old girl shot in head discharged from GPHC after 2 life-saving surgeries
The Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) has successfully removed a warhead from the right temporal-parietal region of the brain of a six-year-old female patient.
She was admitted to the medical institution on June 16, 2024, with a gunshot wound to the head. Following her admission, immediate surgical intervention was required, and an initial surgery to stop the bleeding was performed, a crucial step in stabilising the child’s condition.
The operating team
The surgery was performed by Chief Neurosurgeon, Dr. Amarnauth Dukhi, with the support of his neurosurgery team, along with the nurses, Intensive Care Unit (ICU), High Dependency Unit (HDU), and the Pediatrics Unit.
However, three days later, Dr. Dukhi and his team successfully performed a second surgery to remove the warhead lodged in her brain.
The complexity of these surgeries and the initial prognosis highlighted the grave nature of the situation.
“Despite the seemingly low chances of survival associated with gunshot injuries to the head, the meticulous care and expertise of Dr. Dukhi and his team ensured the successful outcome of both procedures. The child was eventually discharged by the neurosurgery team on July 18, 2024, and continued to receive care in our Pediatrics High Dependency Unit (HDU) and Pediatric Ward for further optimisation of her condition,” the GPHC stated in a media release.
On July 30, 2024, the patient was discharged and is on the path to a full recovery. This outcome underscores the critical role of advanced medical care in our Neurosurgery Department and the unwavering commitment of GPHC’s staff to saving lives, even in the most challenging circumstances.
“The GPCH remains dedicated to advancing medical care and providing exceptional services to the people of Guyana. We extend our heartfelt thanks and commendation to the Neurosurgery team for their excellent work and dedication to neurosurgical care nationally, and to the medical staff, the patient’s family, and all those who supported this incredible journey to recovery for this six-year-old child.”
