Sushruta Samhitais an ancientAyurvedictreatise predominantly focused on surgery.Maharshi Sushrutais considered as the father of Indian surgery.Arishtha Vijnana(concepts related to prognosis) has been documented in the chapters 28–33 ofSutra Sthana(section that deals with basic principles ofAyurveda).Swabhava Vipratipatti Adhyaya(SVA) is the 32ndchapter ofSushruta Sutra Sthana(SSS). Various pathological signs and symptoms, which denote fatal consequences, have been documented within seven verses in this chapter. Works are scarce onArishtha Vijnanamentioned in SSS, and further, exploration is required. The aim of the present study is to explore the prognostic potential of the contents of SVA with the help of contemporary prognostic literature. Various pathological features having poor prognoses such as hypo- and hyper-pigmentation, hypo- and hypertonia, hypo- and hyperthermia, atrophy, hypertrophy, dystrophy, discoloration, sclerosis, ankylosis, dislocations, prolapse, abnormal involuntary movements, “-malacia,” “-megaly,” “micro- and macro-,” anhidrosis and hyperhidrosis, exophthalmos and enophthalmos, ptosis, neuromuscular disorders, lower motor neuron syndromes, autoimmune disorders with systemic manifestations, immunodeficiency syndromes, anorexia, cachexia, sarcopenia, carcinomas, dysfunctional tear syndrome, marasmic kwashiorkor, lymphedema, voice disorders (aphonia, hypophonia, dysphonia, etc.), dacrystic seizures, gastric outlet obstruction, epileptic drop attacks, priapism with cervical cord lesions, Tourette syndrome-plus, trichotillomania, and terminal lucidity can be seen in SVA chapter. The contents of SVA chapter of SSS seem to have prognostic importance, and the present study paves the way for the development of new hypotheses for future testing.
