12-year-old girl develops hole in stomach after eating nitrogen paan at wedding reception in Bengaluru

“The patient underwent exploratory laparotomy with intra-op-OGD scopy, and sleeve gastrectomy was swiftly conducted to address the critical condition. There was an unhealthy patch of about 4×5 cm on the lesser curvature of the stomach, which was taken care of with sleeve resection (a part of the stomach was removed). Post surgery she had two days of ICU stay and got discharged after six days,” Dr Vijay H S, operating surgeon (surgical gastroenterology), said in a statement issued on Monday.

“If not handled with caution, molecular gastronomy and safety may not go hand in hand. Multiple cases have been reported in different parts of India. One such case was reported in Gurugram back in 2017, when a person drank a cocktail infused with liquid nitrogen. We need to take these isolated incidents seriously before they become a pattern,” added Dr Vijay, who led the team of doctors that swung into action after the girl was brought to the hospital.

“As liquid nitrogen continues to gain popularity in gastronomic circles, individuals must exercise prudence and prioritize safety above all else. Vigilance, coupled with heightened awareness, remains paramount in mitigating the potentially devastating consequences of such hazardous indulgences,” he added.

Inhaling the vapours can cause breathing difficulties and a few cases of tissue damage have also been reported with regard to the hazardous nature of liquid nitrogen, according to the hospital authorities. They requested the Karnataka government to take necessary steps to prevent such incidents. The Tamil Nadu government has banned the use of liquid nitrogen in foods.

Some people in Davanagere had complained of severe stomach pain and developed complications after consuming “smoke biscuits” at an exhibition.