Doctors Save Young Man’s Arm with Complex Subclavian Artery Surgery in Raipur

Another Major Success of the Heart, Chest and Vascular Surgery Department at Medical College Hospital, Raipur: Youth’s Arm Saved by Reconnecting the Subclavian Artery Severed by a Knife
…and thus doctors made the impossible possible

Raipur, February 2026 : Doctors at Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Medical College and Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar Memorial Hospital (Mekahara), Raipur, have once again achieved a remarkable medical feat by successfully performing a highly complex and life-saving surgery, saving a young man’s arm from amputation. The patient had suffered a severe knife injury that completely severed the main artery supplying the arm—the subclavian artery.

According to doctors, had the patient not received timely and advanced surgical intervention, his arm would have had to be amputated, leaving him permanently disabled. Under the leadership of Dr. Krishnakant Sahu, Head of the Department of Heart, Chest and Vascular Surgery, the medical team not only saved the patient’s life but also restored blood flow to his arm.

A unique aspect of this surgery was the involvement of orthopedic surgeons, who assisted in cutting the collarbone (clavicle) to access the damaged artery. After the procedure, the bone was reconstructed using a metal plate. This is believed to be one of the first such cases in Chhattisgarh where the shoulder bone was cut and an artificial vascular graft was used to save a patient’s life and limb.

Details of the Case

Dr. Krishnakant Sahu explained that a 34-year-old man was brought to the trauma unit of Ambedkar Hospital in a critical condition, suffering from massive blood loss. The patient, a resident of Amleshwar and an employee of an electric vehicle company, was attacked with a sharp knife on his left shoulder following a road altercation with an e-rickshaw driver. The injury was so deep that the subclavian artery, which runs behind the collarbone, was completely damaged.

Profuse bleeding caused the patient to lose consciousness. Although temporary measures were taken to control the bleeding, blood flow to the left arm stopped, causing discoloration and loss of strength. Delay in surgery could have resulted in gangrene and eventual amputation.

After other hospitals declined treatment due to the severity of the injury, the patient was brought back to Ambedkar Hospital, where an emergency surgery was immediately planned.

A Highly Complex and Challenging Surgery

Subclavian artery surgery, especially in its second segment, is extremely challenging due to its deep location behind the collarbone. To gain access, the collarbone was surgically cut. A 7×30 mm Dacron artificial graft was used to replace the damaged artery segment. The operation lasted nearly four hours, during which about five units of blood were transfused. Extreme care was taken to protect the brachial plexus nerves to prevent permanent paralysis. After restoring blood flow, the collarbone was fixed back with a plate.

Patient Fully Recovered

Thanks to timely intervention, the patient’s arm was saved and the risk of gangrene was avoided. He has now fully recovered and returned to his normal daily activities.

The successful surgical team included Dr. Krishnakant Sahu (Heart, Chest and Vascular Surgery), orthopedic surgeons Dr. Pranay Srivastava and Dr. Lomesh Sahu, anesthetists Dr. Sankalp Diwan and Dr. Balswaroop Sahu, junior doctors, nursing staff, and anesthesia technicians.

This achievement stands as a matter of pride for Ambedkar Hospital and demonstrates that with expert medical care, teamwork, and timely decisions, even the most complex and life-threatening cases can be successfully managed in government hospitals.