UDAIPUR: An 18-inch-long iron rod that pierced deep into the chest of a 30-year-old man following a road accident in Banswara was removed during a six-hour emergency surgery at Geetanjali Medical College and Hospital here.

The man was seriously injured when the motorcycle he was riding collided head-on with an autorickshaw in Banswara. In the impact, an iron rod connected to the autorickshaw’s side-view mirror pierced through his chest and became lodged inside.

The injury caused extensive damage to the chest wall, major blood vessels and lung. He also suffered severe internal bleeding, while pressure on the heart further complicated his condition.

The critically injured man was referred to Geetanjali Hospital in Udaipur. Given the severity of his injuries, he was shifted to the operation theatre immediately after arrival. A team comprising cardiac surgeons, cardiac anaesthetists, operation theatre personnel and intensive care specialists was mobilised for the emergency procedure.

The surgery, which began at night, continued for nearly six hours. The surgical team carefully removed the embedded iron rod and repaired the damaged blood vessels, chest wall and lung. Controlling the internal bleeding and relieving the pressure on the heart were among the major challenges during the procedure.

The surgery was performed under the leadership of Dr. Sanjay Gandhi, Head of the Department of Cardiac Surgery. Dr. Shobhit Mathur, Dr. Sagar and Dr. Brijesh were part of the surgical team.

Cardiac anaesthetists Dr. Kalpesh and Dr. Sumit played a key role in maintaining the patient’s stability during the prolonged surgery. The operation theatre and intensive care teams also worked in close coordination in managing the critically injured patient.

Doctors said the case highlights the importance of timely specialist intervention and coordinated care in severe trauma cases, particularly those involving penetrating injuries to the chest.