A newborn girl born with a rare, life-threatening congenital defect was successfully treated at Ahmedabad Civil Hospital after doctors performed a complex endoscopic surgery to restore her breathing, Gujarat health officials said on May 29. The infant, delivered on May 1 in Naliya town, Kutch, was referred to Ahmedabad after developing severe respiratory distress that local hospitals could not resolve.
The baby, born to the family of labourer Anmol Nod and weighing 2 kg at birth, suffered immediate breathing difficulties. She received initial care locally and was transferred to Bhuj for six days of intensive treatment. When her condition failed to improve, she was moved to Ahmedabad Civil Hospital and admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) on May 8 under Dr. Charul Mehta, head of the pediatric unit.
Clinicians suspected an airway blockage when a Ryle’s tube-a nasogastric tube used for feeding and suction-could not be passed through the infant’s nose. A CT scan of the paranasal sinuses confirmed bilateral choanal atresia, a rare condition in which both nasal passages are blocked at the back, preventing nasal breathing. Following diagnosis, the baby was put on oxygen via an oral tube.
On May 12 surgeons performed an Endoscopic Transnasal Choanoplasty with septatectomy to clear the blocked nasal passages and open the airway. Medical Superintendent and head of pediatric surgery Dr. Rakesh Joshi said the procedure successfully restored the child’s nasal airway. He credited Assistant Professor Dr. Mrunalini and her anesthesia team for safely administering anesthesia during the delicate operation.
After surgery the infant returned to the NICU for postoperative care, monitored by Drs. Charul Mehta, Komal Chaudhary and Priyanka Gajjar. She remained on ventilator support for five days; the ventilator was withdrawn on the fifth day and nasal tubes were gradually removed. “At present, Baby Anmol is completely healthy. She is breathing naturally through her nose without any support and is feeding properly on mother’s milk,” Dr. Joshi said.
Minister of State for Health Praful Pansheriya highlighted the case as evidence of advanced, free treatment available at government hospitals, noting that such surgeries can cost lakhs in private facilities. Doctors said bilateral choanal atresia occurs in roughly one in 5,000 to 8,000 births, is more common in females, and constitutes a medical emergency because infants cannot breathe through the nose and rely on limited mouth breathing only while crying. — IANS
Original Source: https://assamtribune.com/health-and-fitness/doctors-successfully-treat-rare-defect-in-newborn-baby-in-ahmedabad-1612157
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Publish Date: 2026-05-29 16:34:00
