Fortis Doctor Performs Life-Saving Emergency Catheterisation Mid-Flight, Eases Elderly Passenger's Severe Urinary Retention

In a remarkable mid-flight medical intervention, Dr. Richie Gupta, Head of the Department and Senior Director of Plastic, Cosmetic, and Reconstructive Surgery at Fortis Hospital, Shalimar Bagh, performed a life-saving emergency procedure on a 65-year-old passenger suffering from acute urinary retention. The incident took place while Dr. Gupta was en route to the United Kingdom when he noticed the passenger in visible distress.

The elderly man was repeatedly visiting the restroom but was unable to pass urine, despite attempts to relieve the condition with dry ice provided by the airline crew. Realising the severity of the situation, the flight crew sought Dr. Gupta's assistance after considering a potential emergency landing.

Dr. Gupta, upon examining the passenger, diagnosed him with acute urinary retention—a condition marked by the inability to empty the bladder, which can lead to severe complications if left untreated. The passenger's bladder was severely distended, and he was in significant discomfort. Despite not having a prior history of urinary issues, the passenger had visited the airport dispensary earlier that day, where catheterisation was performed due to similar symptoms.

With limited medical supplies available onboard, Dr. Gupta performed an emergency catheterisation using a plain sterile catheter, xylocaine jelly, and syringes. He manually drained approximately 800 millilitres of urine, significantly relieving the passenger’s condition. After the procedure, the man’s bladder size returned to normal, and his discomfort subsided.

Reflecting on the emergency, Dr. Richie Gupta stated, “Urinary retention is commonly seen in elderly males, often due to an enlarged prostate. In this case, I utilised the limited medical equipment available and performed a manual catheterisation to relieve the patient. Without timely intervention, the situation could have escalated into serious complications such as kidney damage or infection.”