News
Kalubowila shows the way for post-ICU care with PULSE
Dr. Asela Gunawardena registers a patient as Dr. Sagari Kiriwandeniya (far right) and Dr. Palitha Mahipala (third from right) look on. Pix by M.A. Pushpa Kumara
It was a function with a difference, two days before Vesak on Tuesday (May 21), very much in the spirit of this thrice blessed Buddhist celebration.
Formalities having been dealt with earlier, the true essence of what the Colombo South Teaching Hospital (CSTH), Kalubowila, was offering came in the form of a little plant.
The plants lined up on a side table in the seventh floor Dr. W.D. Gunawardena auditorium were not gifts from patients to the staff, but the other way round. They were from the staff to survivors who have battled for their lives in CSTH’s Intensive Care Units (ICUs) and come out winners, of course, due to the skill, commitment and dedication of the staff.
The healthy plants were a symbol – for these survivors had been like wilting plants nurtured back to life by the ICU staff headed by Consultant Anaesthetists and Consultant Intensivists aided by specialists and junior doctors; nursing staff, allied health staff and support staff.
Now these former ICU patients and their families would be responsible for caring for these plants back in their homes, the same way the ICU survivors would have to look after themselves with family support and guidance from the health staff.
Dr. Sagari Kiriwandeniya “proud” of her staff
Even those who lit the traditional oil lamp at the opening of ‘PULSE’, the Post ICU Life Support & Evaluation Clinic, reflected all the ‘stakeholders’ while the live-wires behind-the-scenes were Consultant Anaesthetist Dr. Priyani Panduwawala and Acting Consultant Intensivist Dr. Mohamed Makarim. The hope is that it would be the first such sustainable clinic.
Delving deep into all aspects of critical care, Consultant Intensivist Dr. Rasanee Wanigasuriya looked back at the first ICU established in the world in the early 1950s in Copenhagen, Denmark, by Danish Anaesthesiologist Dr. Bjorn Ibsen during the polio epidemic. Thereafter, critical care had evolved globally into a highly specialised, sophisticated and technologically-advanced field of medicine.
“Millions of critically ill patients have survived following ICU admission,” she said.
Dr. Mohamed Makarim handing over a plant to a patient
In Sri Lanka, the first Surgical ICU (SICU) had been at the General Hospital Colombo (now the National Hospital of Sri Lanka – NHSL). The CSTH’s first had been a multi-disciplinary ICU back in 1991.
Dr. Neelangani Lamahewage addressing the gathering
Now in the state sector there are 100 ICUs with a bed capacity of 700 across the country, while the three CSTH ICUs – the Medical ICU (MICU), the SICU and the General ICU (GICU) have a total bed strength of 25.
‘PULSE’ is ensconced within the GICU and will function every Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 12 noon. It was here on May 21 that the first three patients who have been chosen for follow-up were registered by Health Secretary Dr. Palitha Mahipala; the Director-General of Health Services Dr. Asela Gunawardena; and CSTH’s dynamic Director Dr. Sagari Kiriwandeniya. The patients were attended to by Consultant Intensivist Dr. Waruni Samaranayake.
As Consultant Anaesthetist Dr. Neelangani Lamahewage reiterated, ‘PULSE’ is part of the CSTH’s continuing efforts to provide quality healthcare to its patients by seeing to post-ICU follow-up along with support and education of patients and their families.
Nostalgic memories for Dr. Shirani Hapuarachchi
Dr. Priyani Panduwawala
The programme that morning to the delight of the patients and their families included entertainment spots amidst the speeches. The poignant song, ‘Thapparen Amunuwa Divisara’ was sung by Dr. Tilan Wijayawardana with the lyrics having been written by Dr. Panduwawala; a powerful rendition of ‘One Last Breath’ was by Dr. Kavya Boteju; and invocation of much love for the country through ‘Lanka, Lanka Pembara Lanka’ was by Consultant Anaesthetist Dr. Asoka Gunaratne. Singer Keerthi Pasquel dedicated three songs to healthcare workers.
It was with much emotion that Guest-of-Honour and veteran Consultant Anaesthetist Dr. Shirani Hapuarachchi re-traced her time as the Anaesthetist at the Kalubowila Hospital back in the early 1990s.
Hailing the “milestone” achieved by her hospital, Director Dr. Kiriwandeniya lauded her staff for making maximum use of the available resources to give the best output to the patients – not just extended life years but extended “quality” life years.
The aspect of quality was also underscored by Consultant Intensivist Dr. Wanigasuriya in her presentation. She said that the ICU management of a critically ill patient encompasses some invasive therapies. These therapies, in addition to the critical illness, have adverse consequences on all organs of the body, even though they are essential to save the patient’s life.
Dr. Rasanee Wanigasuriya explaining the importance of ‘PULSE’
Dr. Waruni Samaranayake addressing the function
The long-lasting impairment of physical and cognitive functions and mental health issues after intensive care – Post Intensive Care Syndrome (PICS) – ultimately affect the quality of life of the patient as well as his/her family and, in turn, society. This is why international guidelines have reiterated the importance for such patients after discharge to be provided access to a follow-up programme.
Dr. Wanigasuriya added: “However, there are specific inclusion criteria for such a programme which also involves the input of the treating clinician, the multidisciplinary team and taking into consideration the concerns of the patients and their families. The Post ICU Follow-up Clinic is considered ‘a quality indicator’ which ensures that patients have a smooth rehabilitation back to family and society.”
| A clinic for the Ganeshes of this country | |
 M. Ganeshamurthi A better quality of life, after severe illness and injury, is exactly what CSTH’s ‘PULSE’ would be providing to former ICU patients like M. Ganeshamurthi (45). Dubbed the “star” of the ICU, humble Ganesh from Ratnapura had been labouring at a construction site in Wellawatte, when he fell from a very high palanchiya (scaffolding). The injuries to internal organs were grievous, with a long mammoty handle, piercing his body from the groin to the chest, like a stake. Ganesh had been in the SICU for four long months.
|
The best way to say that you found the home of your dreams is by finding it on Hitad.lk. We have listings for apartments for sale or rent in Sri Lanka, no matter what locale you're looking for! Whether you live in Colombo, Galle, Kandy, Matara, Jaffna and more - we've got them all!