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Tiny Patient, Giant Challenge: Tooth Removed From Infant's Lung
24 Nov
Summary
- A 26-day-old infant inhaled a hidden natal tooth, causing severe respiratory distress.
- Doctors used a urology tool to remove the tooth from the infant's airway.
- The infant is believed to be the youngest and smallest globally to undergo this procedure.
A startling medical case unfolded at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital in Navi Mumbai when a 26-day-old infant was admitted with critical respiratory issues. Despite initial tests showing no clear cause, a subsequent bronchoscopy revealed a shocking culprit: a hidden natal tooth lodged in the infant's bronchus. The tiny patient, weighing just 1.95 kg, required an immediate and complex lifesaving intervention.
What made this case unprecedented was the infant's size, significantly smaller than any previously recorded patient undergoing such a procedure. Standard bronchoscopes were too large, forcing the medical team to devise an ingenious solution. They adapted a urethral stone basket, typically used in urology, to carefully extract the tooth. This high-risk, 14-hour operation demanded exceptional teamwork and precision to avoid catastrophic airway collapse.
The successful removal of the tooth led to a rapid recovery for the infant. Within 48 hours, he was breathing independently and resumed feeding. Discharged in good health, this case highlights the hospital's advanced capabilities in neonatal airway management, demonstrating how innovation and specialized expertise can overcome extraordinary challenges without resorting to invasive surgery.
