Journalism of Courage
Paediatricians are accustomed to dealing with different types of foreign bodies lodged in the windpipes of kids between 1 to 3 years of age. However,in the case of 8-month-old Chandrakant Uttpankar,doctors were surprised to find that the foreign body that was lodged within the childs wind pipe was a peanut.
Dr Sanjay Bafna said the peanut nearly snuffed his life out. The child was in deep shock,unconscious,gasping for breath and his oxygen saturation and BP was critically low when the child was brought to Jehangir Hospital. A team of doctors including Dr Shweta Agarwal,Dr Ranjit Kargar,Dr. Sagar Lad,Dr.Sanjay Bafna,Dr. Mayur Chaudhari and Dr. Dasmit Singh helped save the child.
Initial impression was that the collapse was due to the aspiration of vomit,resulting in a mucus plug blocking the airway. However,since the collapse persisted and instead of improving was experiencing multiple convulsions,a decision was taken to attempt a high-risk bronchoscopy – a very challenging manoeuvre,with the child being in critical condition and on ventilation support. Removing the peanut pieces was another challenge in itself,given the critical condition of the child,the tiny size of his wind pipe,complete collapse of the left lung and the child being on ventilator.
Pediatric Surgeon Dr Dasmit Singh,who carried out the bronchoscopy said that they had to literally nibble away at the peanut and erode it with instruments in order to free the airway. The procedure was successfully accomplished and the left lung was free from obstruction. Subsequent medication took care of the inflammation and infection and after 48 hours the child was able to breathe without artificial support. He was discharged on March 14.
