RARE KEY HOLE SURGERY for abnormal food pipe performed in one day old 2.3 kg baby

Ludhiana, March 28, 2013: A 6 hour old baby with the birth weight of 2.3 Kg was referred to Department of Paediatric Surgery, CMC & Hospital, Ludhiana with complaints of drooling of saliva from mouth and difficulty in breathing since birth. Investigations at CMC& Hospital revealed that baby’s food pipe was incomplete by birth and lower half of food pipe was connected to wind pipe of the baby.

Normally this type of defective food pipe is repaired by opening the chest of a new born. Dr William Bhatti, Professor & Head Department of Paediatric Surgery and his team doctors, Dr N Bedi, Dr A. Gupta, Dr S Dhuria, and Anaesthiologist Dr Sara did a successful Total Thoracoscopic repair of an incomplete food pipe. By this technique, one 0.5 cm and two 0.3cm key holes were made in the chest and lower half of the food pipe was separated from the wind pipe and sutured to the upper incomplete half of food pipe. The Total Thoracoscopic repair of a defective food pipe in a new born baby has been done for the first time in North India. Birth defects in children can be managed effectively if parents and physician; can identify birth defects well in time.

Dr William Bhatti further mentioned that earlier, this technique of operation by Thoracoscopes or Laparoscopes, in new born baby was available only in advanced countries, but now this technique is available in CMC& Hospital Ludhiana. Dr Bhatti said that operations by open techniques are painful for babies and recovery is delayed. Similar operations by Thoracoscopy or Laparoscopy are less painful, scars of the operation are negligible and the hospital stay is remarkably reduced.

Dr Abraham G Thomas – Director of CMC & H – said that the CMC is always committed to provide the latest technology to Punjab so that the people of this area can get the best possible treatment.