AIMS Performs Surgery for Thornwaldt’s Cyst to Save 4-day Old's Life

The surgery was done first time in India, in record 28 minutes and was virtually bloodless

A team of doctors from Asian Institute of Medical Sciences, Faridabad, conducted a miracle surgery on a four-day old female baby, Ankita (name changed) with a rare and in this case, life-threatening condition known as Thornwaldt’s Cyst. Doctors at AIMS informed that they have not yet come across any reference about this kind of oral surgery being done anywhere else in the world on such a small baby.

Thus it is a major milestone for AIMS. The surgery was done by a team of doctors led by Dr Lalit Mohan Parashar, Senior Consultant, ENT assisted by Dr Swapnil Brajpuria, Assistant Consultant, ENT.

The baby, born on November 27, 2011 was found to have difficulties breathing while feeding and the infant went into desaturation with falling oxygen levels.

Dr NK Pandey, Chairman and Chief Surgeon, AIMS, said, “Several tests were conducted on the infant and no conclusive diagnosis could be reached to identify the cause of the infants inability to breathe normally while taking a feed and his desaturation with O2 levels falling.”

Speaking on the complex case which baffled doctors at first, Dr Lalit Mohan Parashar, Senior Consultant, ENT, AIMS said, “ This was a complicated case as the diagnosis was unclear and time was running out for the baby. The very procedure to investigate and conduct a diagnosis on the four-day old infant was a grave challenge owing to the delicate condition of the infant and her compromised immunity levels.”

“Apart from unclear diagnosis, the very exercise to conduct the investigation was a huge challenge. The non-availibility of such tiny surgical instruments to conduct even the laryngoscopy investigation on the baby posed a major hurdle for us,” he continued.

“Finally, a curved laryngoscope was used during the nasal endoscopy, which revealed a growth projecting from under the baby’s palate which was causing respiratory embarrassment (breathing difficulties ) in the baby and obstructing his ability to swallow milk,” added Dr Parashar.

“After inserting a tube through the baby’s nose and suctioning off secretions we lifted the base of the tongue of the infant. We then spotted a growth projecting from under the palate above. The same was confirmed with endoscopes,” explained Dr Parashar. An MRI scan gave us the details of growth.

“Dr Parashar, and his team handled the delicate case with elan. His assistant, Dr Swapnil Brijpuriya overcame a major challenge faced due to paucity of surgical instruments for the baby. He innovatively improvised with available instruments to enable Dr Parashar to conduct surgery on the tiny infant to give him a new life line. I am indeed overwhelmed at this success we have achieved due to the efforts of our dedicated and never-say-die attitude of our doctors and staff,” said an exultant Dr Pandey.

“Also our anesthesists, Dr Naintara Batra and Dr Vidushi Bangia did a laudable job by administering the critical and correct dose of anesthesia for the four-day day old infant who, was in a delicate condition, as neonates often are in such early stages of life. The baby was constantly monitored by them,” added Dr Pandey.

Commenting on the success of the surgery, Dr Parashar said, “The surgery was a success as there was minimal blood loss only 4-5 ml and it was completed in a record 28 minutes.”

EH News Bureau