| Vithal Nagesh Shirodkar | |
| Birth Date: | 27 April 1899 |
| Birth Place: | Shiroda, Portuguese Goa |
| Fields: | Medicine |
| Alma Mater: | Grant Medical College |
| Known For: | Shirodkar cerclage |
V. N. Shirodkar or Vithal Nagesh Shirodkar (27 April 1899 – 7 March 1971)[1] was an Indian obstetrician and gynaecologist, hailing from the State of Goa.
Shirodkar was born in Shiroda, Goa. He belonged to the Kalawantin community (now known as Gomantak Maratha Samaj in Goa).[2] After he graduated from Grant Medical College, he went to United Kingdom and obtained his Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons in 1931. He was associated with Professor J. Chassar Moir, Victor Lack, J.D.Murdoch and others.
He returned to India and joined J.J.Group of Hospitals in 1935 as Honorary Obstetrician and Gynecologist. He was an inimitable teacher and innovator. His most widely known contribution is Cervical cerclage the "Shirodkar cerclage". His other contributions include operations for prolapse repair, tuboplasty and creation of neovagina. He published widely and took a keen interest in social medicine.
He was member of the Shantilal Shah Committee on Abortions and also established the Family Planning Association of India.
He was honored by the Government of India with Padma Bhushan in 1960 and Padma Vibhushan in 1971.[3]
A Shirodkar cerclage is very similar to the standard cervical cerclage, but the sutures pass through the walls of the cervix so they're not exposed. This type of cerclage is less common and technically more difficult than a McDonald, and is thought (though not proven) to reduce the risk of infection. The Shirodkar procedure sometimes involves a permanent stitch around the cervix which will not be removed and therefore a Caesarean section will be necessary to deliver the baby. The Shirodkar technique was first described by Dr. V. N. Shirodkar in Bombay in 1955.[4]