Holiday Heroics: Doctors Save 4-Year-Old After Coin Stuck in Food Pipe
Doctors at Agartala Government Medical College saved a 4-year-old boy by removing a coin from his food pipe during a public holiday.
In a race against time and despite a public holiday, a dedicated team of medical professionals at the Agartala Government Medical College (AGMC) performed a life-saving procedure to remove a coin from the food pipe of a four-year-old boy.
A Parent's Nightmare
The incident began when a young Janajati boy from Bangshibari, located in the Sepahijala district, accidentally swallowed a coin. As the object became lodged in his food pipe, his anxious parents rushed him to the IGM Hospital (IGMH) for immediate help.
After an initial assessment, the medical staff at IGM Hospital determined that the child required specialized care. He was promptly referred to GBP Hospital for advanced treatment under the expertise of the ENT Department at AGMC.
Precision Under Pressure
The child was admitted to the ENT Department of AGMC on the evening of October 24. To prepare for the delicate surgery, the medical team kept the boy "nil orally" overnight, ensuring his stomach was empty for the procedure.
The morning of October 25 marked the Lakshmi Puja holiday, a day when many institutions are closed. However, the urgency of the situation took precedence. Under general anaesthesia (GA), the surgical team carefully navigated the child's food pipe and successfully extracted the coin.
The Medical Team Behind the Success
The successful intervention was made possible by a coordinated effort led by Dr Tanmoy Deb. The team included:
- Dr Binoy Deb Barma
- Dr Deepsikha Bhattacharjee
- Dr Sourav Saha
- Nursing Officer Mr Subrata Paul
Recovery and Discharge
Following the successful removal of the foreign object, the boy remained under close medical observation to ensure there were no complications. After a thorough assessment and a period of recovery, he was discharged from the hospital on October 26.
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers young children face with small objects and highlights the critical importance of timely medical intervention and coordinated emergency care in saving lives.