Man revived from deep coma after 2 months

NEW DELHI: Doctors at a private hospital here have given a new lease of life to a man declared "near brain dead" by a hospital in Canada. Asok Debnath, an IT professional from Kolkata, was suffering from severe brain infection that went undetected for several weeks.

Ankita, the patient's wife, said he was airlifted to Max Hospital in Saket when doctors in Canada gave up. "My husband was working on a project in Canada for the past three years. In October, he had fever, headache, chills and pain in the back of the neck. Gradually, he developed difficulty in walking," she said. "We took him to a local hospital where doctors diagnosed abnormality in the brain with enhancement in the brain stem suggestive of some kind of brain and spine infection. But they could not find the cause."

Debnath's condition deteriorated and he slipped into deep coma. Doctors observed him for 20 days and then declared there was no possibility of any improvement. "They consoled and asked me to be brave," said Ankita, who married Debnath two years ago.

Unwilling to give up, she mailed her husband's medical report to all major hospitals in India, and finally Dr Puneet Agarwal from Max offered to make an effort to save him.

"Frankly, we were not confident about saving or reviving him. The doctors in Canada had done all possible tests and treatment," said Dr Agarwal. Debnath was put through a series of tests for brain infection and tested positive for Lyme disease-a bacterial disease spread by tick bites that affects the skin, joints, heart and the nervous system. "It is very common in western countries. I am surprised doctors in Canada could not pick this up," the doctor said.

Debnath was put on Lyme medication for about a month with intravenous immune globulin (IVIg), and antibiotic therapy was given to check infection in the trachea. "The medication worked and he gradually developed consciousness after about two-and-a-half months in deep comatose condition. At present, he is fully conscious and is able to speak a few words. Recently, he started eating solids and semi-solids without a tube. He also has some movement in both legs now," Dr Agarwal said.

Although complete recovery is still some way off, Ankita said, "God has listened to our prayers and saved him. I am sure things will improve further".