Chennai
In Sept 2006, Dr. Cherian was invited to give talks at the Annual Conference of Cardio Thoracic Surgery at Lankawi, Malaysia. Impressed with his knowledge and mastery, the organisers appointed Dr. Cherian as an Honorary Member of the Society. During this conference, a Chinese surgeon expressed his desire to visit Dr. Cherian’s hospital in Chennai, which was duly arranged. At the end of his 2 weeks visit, he invited Dr. Cherian to visit China. Dr. Cherian accepted not knowing that the invitation was from a top official Chinese Military Hospital. He was accorded full honour upon his arrival when he was driven to the hospital in a military car and welcomed with a massive hospital-height banner. The next day, Dr. Cherian saw around 20 patients he was supposed to operate on. His host specially requested him to operate on 2 very critical patients. One was a 6 month old infant with TGA (Transposition of the Great Arteries), a complex blue baby condition, one of Dr. Cherian’s areas of expertise. The second was a 40-year-old woman weighing hardly 30 kg who had undergone at least 2 previous surgeries (all closed procedures).
Her enlarged heart occupied the whole chest cavity. The triple valve replacement with reduction of right & left atria required speed, perfection and a lot and co-ordination with the paramedical team. The language barrier was a major challenge as none in his assigned team spoke English. Considering the patient’s condition, Dr. Cherian had second thoughts about the surgery. The surgery was performed; the patient was disconnected from the Heart Lung machine and while inserting the drainage tube through the upper chambers which were very huge and thin, it entered the left atrial cavity resulting in massive bleeding and she exsanguinated on the table. Nothing could have been done to save the patient. All other surgeries performed over 7 days were successful.
The impressed Chinese medical fraternity arranged for excellent media coverage. During the formal dinner in honour of Dr. Cherian, the Chief Guest, Vice Chancellor of Nanyang University, presented Dr. Cherian a rare honour, an Honorary Professorship Certificate, the first awarded to an Indian. It was here that Dr. Cherian saw his chauffeur sitting next to him. He reflected on the value of humans regardless of their station in life. The spirit of Socialism, which treated a chauffeur on par with other dignitaries, impressed him. “I went there to teach a lesson in medicine and returned after learning a life lesson. Everyone has a role to play in this game of life. And each role is equally important.”
The writer is Director of X Factor Group of companies
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