Bhubaneswar, July 25: A 10-month-old baby girl from Balipatna, near Bhubaneswar, was given a new lease on life after doctors at SUM Ultimate Medicare successfully removed a custard apple (sitaphal) seed that had become lodged in her airway during a complex emergency procedure.

The infant, daughter of Naimuddin Khan and Nigma Begum, accidentally swallowed a ripe custard apple seed while playing at home, unnoticed by her parents. The seed became stuck in the right main bronchus, completely blocking the airway to her right lung and severely restricting her breathing. As her oxygen levels dropped, the baby developed bluish discoloration of the body, indicating a life-threatening medical emergency.

She was immediately rushed to SUM Ultimate Medicare, where a team led by Dr. Radha Madhab Sahu, Head of the Department of ENT and Skull Base Surgery, carried out an emergency bronchoscopy to remove the seed.

According to Dr. Sahu, the procedure was particularly challenging because the airway of a 10-month-old infant is extremely narrow. The custard apple seed was relatively large compared to the child's bronchus, and its smooth, slippery surface made it difficult to grasp. Using bronchoscopy with optical forceps, the surgical team successfully extracted the seed, restoring the baby's airway and preventing further complications.

Doctors cautioned that foreign objects or food particles lodged in the airway can cause complete airway obstruction, posing an immediate threat to life. They urged parents and caregivers to closely supervise young children, who often explore objects by putting them into their mouths.

Following the successful procedure and post-operative care, the baby made a full recovery and was discharged from the hospital.

Expressing their gratitude, the child's parents thanked the doctors and staff at SUM Ultimate Medicare for their timely intervention and dedicated care that saved their daughter's life.

The case highlights the importance of rapid diagnosis, specialized medical expertise, and coordinated teamwork in managing life-threatening pediatric airway emergencies.