Patients requiring laparoscopic bile stone surgery at Lokbandhu Hospital in Lucknow are experiencing significant delays after the hospital's laparoscopy machine became non-functional approximately one week ago. This breakdown has compelled several patients to either wait for repairs or undergo conventional open surgery instead of the preferred minimally invasive procedure.
Impact on Patients
Hospital officials have reported that nearly 20 patients undergo laparoscopic bile stone surgery at the facility each month. However, with the machine out of order, scheduled procedures have been disrupted, causing considerable inconvenience, particularly for patients traveling from rural areas who have already made multiple visits to the hospital.
One attendant, Ramesh Yadav, who brought his wife for surgery, expressed his frustration: "Doctors informed us that the laparoscopic procedure could not be performed due to the faulty machine. We were asked either to wait or opt for open surgery. We have already been visiting the hospital for several days."
Medical Preference for Laparoscopy
Medical professionals explain that laparoscopic surgery is generally preferred over open surgery because it involves smaller incisions, less postoperative pain, and faster recovery times. The current situation has forced patients to choose between a prolonged wait for the machine to be repaired or a more invasive procedure with a longer healing period.
Hospital Response
Dr. Rajeev Dixit, Director of Lokbandhu Hospital, acknowledged the issue and assured that efforts are underway to resolve it promptly. "The machine has developed a technical fault. We are getting it repaired and it will be functional soon," he stated. However, no specific timeline for the repairs has been provided, leaving patients in uncertainty.
This breakdown highlights the critical dependence on medical equipment in healthcare facilities and the challenges faced when such equipment fails, especially in hospitals serving a large number of patients from underserved areas.
