BEDHANA KARMA: AN AYURVEDIC PERSPECTIVE ON SURGICAL INCISIONS WITH EMPHASIS ON ABDOMINAL INCISIONS

Bhedana karma is one of the eight fundamental surgical procedures (astavidha shastra karma) described by acharya Sushrutha. The concept of bhedana primarily refers to making a controlled incision to drain pus or to gain access to deeper structures, which can be correlated to modern surgical principle of incision. This article aims to critically analyze the classical bhedana karma with surgical incisions with special reference to abdominal incisions. Acharya Sushrutha has mentioned shastras used, indication, technique and qualities of ideal incision. These qualities resemble modern incision requirements of accessibility, extensibility and safety. The role of bhedana karma in different conditions like vidhradhi, granthi, ashmari, udara and some kshudra rogas explained by acharya Sushrutha are reviewed. Additionally, different types of abdominal incisions including midline, paramedian, Kochers, Pfannenstiel, grid iron and transverse incisions are been discussed here. This article highlights that acharya Sushrutha’s surgical principles scientifically relevant even in present day surgical practice.