Plastic Surgery & Burns Unit
OVERVIEW
The Burns Unit at Masina Hospital Headed by- Dr. Arvind Vartak with more than 50 years of Experience in Plastic Surgery.
In 1992 the Burn Care was upgraded. Ms Bhikimai Kharas came forward for this project. With her kind help, Kharas memorial centre came up. The Erik Kharas Burn Research Unit was started on the ground floor of this new building. The unit had 18 beds. (At present Unit has 19 operational beds) Honorable Late Bharat Ratna, Mr. J.R.D Tata inaugurated the Unit on 3rd May 1992. Masina Hospital has a strong sentimental attachment with the house of Tatas. Lady Soonoo Jeejeebhoy (mother of Mr. Ratan Tata) was the chairman of Board of Trustees of Masina Hospital till the time of her demise. The Burns Unit at Masina Hospital was started in the seventies under the guidance of Dr. Manohar H. Keswani with four beds assigned to the Burn care in the main building on the second floor with the support of round tablers.
Ever since it’s inception the Burn Unit has gained prime status in the city of Mumbai. With continued support by the management of Masina Hospital, we are able to maintain the leading status even today. The patients are brought to Masina Hospital with a confidence of receiving good care. They came from all over Mumbai, from Maharashtra and at times from other states. The unit has become a tertiary referral centre.
SERVICES OFFERED
Intensive Burn Care Unit has five beds with individual rooms. Each room has a split Air Conditioner, Central oxygen supply, Central suction Unit and two exhaust fans (to prevent recirculation of air from one patient in the unit to other patients) There are sufficient electrical outlets for use of various equipments.
General Ward has eight beds in common ward and two beds in second class with Split Air conditioners each so that the Burn Care in Masina hospital should be made affordable to the common man. Most of the burn patients come from a poor and middle-income group of society.
First Class has two individual rooms with attached toilet. Deluxe class has two rooms. Each room has a window Air conditioner, personal telephone extension and Television.
All the beds have a central oxygen supply and central suction unit.
Operation theater complex has two operation theaters where all the operations relating to acute burn patients are carried out. Dressings of all patients are carried out strictly in the operation theater to ascertain asepsis and to prevent cross-infection. The theater has its own sterilization system with two autoclaves and skin bank refrigerator. Theater is equipped with boyl’s type anaesthesia machine, the oximeter, multipara monitors. Electric dermatome, skin grafting handles, mesh graft dermatome, and other surgical instruments.
CO2 Laser Unit We have advanced CO2 Laser technology which is the gold standard for the management of post-burn scars, hypertrophic or keloids, also gives excellent results in facial resurfacing, facial rejuvenation. Laser treatment is done on OPD basis requiring approximately 4 to 6 sittings or depending upon the condition. The recovery period is minimal and the patient can continue his/ her day to day activities immediately. Precautions include avoiding direct sun exposure for a few days, application of moisturizers and sun protection creams. Very useful tool in the armamentarium of the Plastic surgeons.
Other Specialties Burn care is teamwork. Services of other medical specialties are requested from the Hon. Consultants attached to the Hospital. Physicians experienced in Burns medicine offer guidance in the medical and intensive care of the patients. Consultants from other specialities (Nephrology, Ophthalmology, Gynecology, Orthopedics etc.) are requested for help whenever required.
Intensivist At present we have the services of a Part-time intensivist who is available in the morning hours and on-call when required.
Resident Doctors Sanctioned posts 3.
Haemodialysis Facility for haemodialysis is made available in two rooms in IBCU which can be utilized whenever required with the help of Nephrologists attached to the Hospital Nephrology Unit.
Nurses are the backbone in the care of the burn patients. They are well trained to handle critical care & burns emergencies. They assist the consultants well to manage severe conditions.
Nutritionist Following a burn injury protein caloric requirement of the patients increases steeply. The Burn patients have grossly deranged metabolism. Nutritional management is of utmost importance. Patients need more than double caloric and protein nutrition following a moderately severe burn injury. Since we are mostly treating critically injured patients nutritionist plays an important role and makes a very important member of the burn team. The services of Nutritionist are now utilized from the hospital dietitian.
Buttermilk Diet: we have developed a special liquid diet which is used for feeds through the Nasogastric tube by using simple material easily available in the market. We use Curd (Yoghurt), Banana, Eggs and Sugar. This has been found to be extremely useful and yet very economical. The results have been rewarding.
Physiotherapists & Occupational Therapists are available on call when required.
Investigation Facilities are provided by the pathology and Radiology Department of the Hospital
Future Plans: At present we find ourselves in need of beds on many occasions throughout the year. Patients who approach us for admission have to be denied because ICU/Unit is full. It is intended (depending on availability of funds) to consider the increase In the number of beds in ICU, General ward, Second class and in First class.
We need the services of intensivist round the clock, more Doctors and Nurses.
When the facilities are available the use of stem cell technology, epidermal cell culture, lasers etc. are the promising technologies and are likely to be very useful in burn patients. These will be considered when possible.
TECHNOLOGY
- Oxymeters,
- multipara monitors
- Cardiac monitors
- infusion pumps
- syringe pumps
- patient warmers
- Bi-PAP ventilators
- two conventional ventilators