A newborn girl with a life-threatening rare congenital defect known as bilateral choanal atresia has been successfully operated upon at the Civil Hospital in Ahmedabad to restore her breathing mechanism, the Gujarat government announced on Friday.
Birth and Initial Treatment
The infant was born through normal delivery on May 1 in Naliya town of Kutch district to a labourer's family. Weighing only 2kg at birth, she developed severe breathing difficulties immediately after delivery. Initially treated at local hospitals, she was later referred to Bhuj, where she received six days of treatment.
Diagnosis at Ahmedabad Civil Hospital
The baby was subsequently shifted to the Ahmedabad Civil Hospital, where doctors diagnosed her with bilateral choanal atresia. This rare congenital condition involves blockage of both nasal passages from the back, preventing a newborn from breathing through the nose. Dr Rakesh Joshi, head of the paediatric surgery department, explained, "During examination, a Ryle's tube could not be passed through the nose, which raised suspicion of a blockage. A CT scan-PNS later confirmed bilateral choanal atresia."
Delicate Surgery Performed
Doctors decided to perform an endoscopic transnasal choanoplasty surgery on May 12. In this highly delicate procedure, the blocked nasal passage was cleared and the breathing pathway was completely opened. Dr Joshi confirmed that the baby is now breathing normally through the nose.
Government's Role
State health minister Praful Pansheriya highlighted that the successful treatment underscores the capability of Gujarat's government-run civil hospitals to provide advanced treatment free of cost to economically weaker patients.
