Ahmedabad doctors remove betel nut, water chestnut stuck in windpipes of two children
Doctors at Ahmedabad Civil Hospital removed betel nut and water chestnut pieces from two children's windpipes, saving their lives. The cases underlined the need for swift referral and emergency bronchoscopy in small children.
Two young children were saved at Ahmedabad Civil Hospital after doctors successfully removed pieces of betel nut and singhara (water chestnut) lodged in their windpipes through advanced bronchoscopy procedures.
The medical team performed the life-saving procedures on two children within five days, after both developed serious breathing difficulties due to foreign objects entering their airways while playing and eating.
According to Ahmedabad Civil Hospital officials, the procedures were carried out under the leadership of Medical Superintendent and Head of the Pediatric Surgery Department Dr Rakesh Joshi, with teams from the Paediatrics, Pediatric Surgery and Anaesthesia departments working together.
Doctors said that foreign objects entering the windpipe can become a medical emergency, especially in small children. Items such as nuts, coins, buttons and small toys can accidentally enter the airway, causing sudden coughing, breathing difficulties and reduced oxygen levels. Without timely medical intervention, such cases can become life-threatening.
The first case involved 18-month-old Riyaben Thakor, daughter of Vijay Thakor and Asha Thakor from Becharpura village in Visnagar taluka.
According to hospital authorities, the toddler accidentally swallowed a piece of betel nut while playing on July 1. Soon after, she developed severe coughing and difficulty breathing.
A CT scan conducted at a private hospital in Visnagar revealed that the betel nut piece had become lodged in the right side of her airway. She was then referred to Ahmedabad Civil Hospital with oxygen support.
At the hospital, she was admitted under the supervision of doctors Jolly G. Vaishnav and Priyanka Patel. Once her condition was stabilised, Dr Rakesh Joshi performed a bronchoscopy on July 2 and successfully removed the trapped piece.
Doctors Aditi Dhimar and Sonal Bhalawat also played a key role during the procedure. Following the surgery, the child recovered quickly, was taken off breathing support and discharged within a few days.
Watch the video here:
The second case involved eight-month-old Rian Meghwal from Raniwara, Rajasthan, who reportedly swallowed a piece of singhara while playing on June 26.
After the incident, the infant developed continuous coughing and severe breathing difficulty. He was initially treated at a government hospital in Raniwara and later at a private hospital in Deesa.
A CT scan showed a suspected foreign object lodged in the child’s right main airway. After an unsuccessful bronchoscopy attempt at the private hospital, the child was referred to Ahmedabad Civil Hospital in critical condition with oxygen support.
Doctors Anuya V. Chauhan and Kripa Patel admitted him under the paediatric department, and due to worsening breathing problems, the child was placed on ventilator support.
An emergency bronchoscopy was performed around midnight by Dr Rakesh Joshi, who successfully removed the broken pieces of singhara from the airway. The anaesthesia team, led by Dr Milind Mewada, assisted during the critical procedure.
The child remained on ventilator support for two days before making a full recovery and being discharged.
Dr Rakesh Joshi said foreign objects entering the windpipe of small children should always be treated as a serious medical emergency.
He stressed that early diagnosis, quick referral and timely bronchoscopy by an experienced medical team can help save children’s lives.
Doctors also urged parents to keep small objects such as peanuts, betel nuts, coins, buttons, beads and small toys away from young children.
They advised parents not to rely on home remedies if a child suddenly develops persistent coughing, breathing difficulty or signs of distress, and instead seek immediate medical attention.
Two young children were saved at Ahmedabad Civil Hospital after doctors successfully removed pieces of betel nut and singhara (water chestnut) lodged in their windpipes through advanced bronchoscopy procedures.
The medical team performed the life-saving procedures on two children within five days, after both developed serious breathing difficulties due to foreign objects entering their airways while playing and eating.
According to Ahmedabad Civil Hospital officials, the procedures were carried out under the leadership of Medical Superintendent and Head of the Pediatric Surgery Department Dr Rakesh Joshi, with teams from the Paediatrics, Pediatric Surgery and Anaesthesia departments working together.
Doctors said that foreign objects entering the windpipe can become a medical emergency, especially in small children. Items such as nuts, coins, buttons and small toys can accidentally enter the airway, causing sudden coughing, breathing difficulties and reduced oxygen levels. Without timely medical intervention, such cases can become life-threatening.
The first case involved 18-month-old Riyaben Thakor, daughter of Vijay Thakor and Asha Thakor from Becharpura village in Visnagar taluka.
According to hospital authorities, the toddler accidentally swallowed a piece of betel nut while playing on July 1. Soon after, she developed severe coughing and difficulty breathing.
A CT scan conducted at a private hospital in Visnagar revealed that the betel nut piece had become lodged in the right side of her airway. She was then referred to Ahmedabad Civil Hospital with oxygen support.
At the hospital, she was admitted under the supervision of doctors Jolly G. Vaishnav and Priyanka Patel. Once her condition was stabilised, Dr Rakesh Joshi performed a bronchoscopy on July 2 and successfully removed the trapped piece.
Doctors Aditi Dhimar and Sonal Bhalawat also played a key role during the procedure. Following the surgery, the child recovered quickly, was taken off breathing support and discharged within a few days.
Watch the video here:
The second case involved eight-month-old Rian Meghwal from Raniwara, Rajasthan, who reportedly swallowed a piece of singhara while playing on June 26.
After the incident, the infant developed continuous coughing and severe breathing difficulty. He was initially treated at a government hospital in Raniwara and later at a private hospital in Deesa.
A CT scan showed a suspected foreign object lodged in the child’s right main airway. After an unsuccessful bronchoscopy attempt at the private hospital, the child was referred to Ahmedabad Civil Hospital in critical condition with oxygen support.
Doctors Anuya V. Chauhan and Kripa Patel admitted him under the paediatric department, and due to worsening breathing problems, the child was placed on ventilator support.
An emergency bronchoscopy was performed around midnight by Dr Rakesh Joshi, who successfully removed the broken pieces of singhara from the airway. The anaesthesia team, led by Dr Milind Mewada, assisted during the critical procedure.
The child remained on ventilator support for two days before making a full recovery and being discharged.
Dr Rakesh Joshi said foreign objects entering the windpipe of small children should always be treated as a serious medical emergency.
He stressed that early diagnosis, quick referral and timely bronchoscopy by an experienced medical team can help save children’s lives.
Doctors also urged parents to keep small objects such as peanuts, betel nuts, coins, buttons, beads and small toys away from young children.
They advised parents not to rely on home remedies if a child suddenly develops persistent coughing, breathing difficulty or signs of distress, and instead seek immediate medical attention.
