One-day-old baby undergoes rare surgery

• Fistula between trachea and esophagus
• First of its kind surgery in AP performed in Kurnool KIMS

Kurnool, January 28, 2021: A one-day-old baby born with a fistula between trachea and esophagus, a rare problem was presented to KIMS hospitals, Kurnool. The doctors performed the rarest surgery and saved her life. Neonatal, who have such issues will have to face a lot of problems. Such formation of fistula leads to cut way between esophagus and stomach. Then whatever she consumes will go directly to the lungs from the esophagus, and it is dangerous. A child born with such a problem was brought to The Kims Hospital. The baby was born by the lower section cesarean surgery in a local hospital in Adoni town. Usually, such a problem will occur to one in 2500-4000 deliveries. This may be congenital. Children with this problem need immediate intervention.  Otherwise, there may be a life threat too. In addition to this problem, the baby has severe dengue fever and also has a secondary bacterial infection. Blood clotting and the issue of enzymes related to the liver are also there. So she has to be transfused blood too.

When the neonatal baby with all these problems was brought to the NICU in Kims, the pediatric surgeon Dr. G.Chalapathi tested her. The necessary blood tests and radiology tests were done. The rare and complex surgery of thoracoscopic TEF repair was done on the baby. Doing such surgery on the neonatal is more complex and difficult. The first pediatric surgeon in Andhra Pradesh to do thoracoscopic TEF Repair type of surgery is none other than Dr. Chalapathi.  He has removed the fistula between the trachea and the esophagus through the repair of thoracoscopic TEF. Doctors need a lot of skill to perform this kind of surgery. Also, there should be advanced equipment. The surgery was successful because all the modern equipment is present in KIMS Kurnool, and Dr. Chalapathi has the expertise and the technique to use them.

After the surgery, the baby was taken to neonatal ICU. She had to have invasive ventilation for a day. After that, oxygen was artificially supplied for another five days and then brought to normal.  Four days after the surgery, feeding was given through the nose and ten days later by mouth. Experienced pediatricians Dr. G. Bharat Reddy, Doctor HA Naved, and Doctor N Bharati have taken complete care of the child. Now the baby is consuming the mother's milk too. The baby is completely recovered and came to normalcy, thanks to the most experienced doctors and nursing staff's care.