4-feet rod removed from 33-year-old man’s body in 5-hour surgery

Mumbai: In a rare case, a four-feet-long iron rod was successfully removed from a 33-year-old man’s body after a five-hour surgery at the state government’s J J Hospital here.

Salim Shaikh, a labourer from Nashik, slipped and fell on the iron rod that was jutting out of concrete pillars while working at a construction site on March 8.

The rod pierced the labourer’s groin and exited near the neck. His co-workers cut the iron rod to detach him from the pillar.

A team of doctors performed the complex surgery to save his life.

The rod had entered his body through the groin, perforating his intestines, liver, abdomen and chest before coming out of the back.

Sheikh’s family hired a private ambulance for the 200-km journey to Mumbai.

Dr Ajay Bhandarwar, who was part of the team which removed the rod on March 9, said open and laparoscopic techniques were used in the surgery.

—PTI