Bengaluru : Doctors at Fortis Hospital Yeshwanthpur successfully saved the life of a two-year-old boy after removing a peanut shell that had remained lodged deep inside his airway for nearly 15 days, causing severe respiratory distress and significantly increasing the complexity of the procedure.
The life-saving intervention was led by Dr. Vivek Gundappa, Clinical Lead – Interventional Pulmonology, who performed a two-hour emergency bronchoscopic procedure to safely remove the foreign body from the toddler’s tiny airway. The successful surgery prevented potentially life-threatening complications and showcased the hospital’s expertise in managing critical pediatric airway emergencies.
The child was brought to the hospital with persistent fever, severe cough, breathlessness, and worsening respiratory distress. His symptoms had initially been treated as a routine respiratory infection at multiple healthcare facilities, but his condition continued to deteriorate.
A detailed clinical evaluation at Fortis, including a chest X-ray and CT scan, revealed a foreign body lodged in the airway, causing overinflation of one lung. Doctors later confirmed that the child had accidentally inhaled a peanut shell while eating nearly two weeks earlier.
The prolonged delay had resulted in severe inflammation and tissue growth around the peanut shell, making its removal far more challenging than a routine bronchoscopy. Given the extremely narrow airway of a two-year-old, the medical team carried out the procedure with exceptional precision to avoid injury to the airway and lungs.
Following the successful extraction, the child was placed on ventilatory support overnight in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU). He recovered steadily, resumed normal breathing, and was discharged in stable condition after four days.
Commenting on the case, Dr. Vivek Gundappa, Clinical Lead – Interventional Pulmonology, Fortis Hospital Yeshwanthpur, said:
“Foreign body aspiration is a medical emergency that can rapidly become life-threatening, especially in young children whose airways are extremely small. In this case, the delayed presentation significantly increased the complexity of the procedure, as the peanut shell had become tightly embedded and surrounded by inflamed tissue. Timely diagnosis and intervention were critical in preventing serious complications and ensuring a successful outcome.”
Dr. Uzair Baig, Consultant – Pulmonology, Fortis Hospital Yeshwanthpur, emphasized the importance of early diagnosis, saying that foreign body aspiration is often overlooked when the incident is not witnessed. He advised that children with persistent cough, wheezing, fever, or breathing difficulties that do not respond to routine treatment should be evaluated for airway obstruction without delay.
Expressing their gratitude, the child’s parents said they were relieved to see their son breathing normally again after an extremely frightening experience and thanked the Fortis medical team for their swift diagnosis, compassionate care, and clinical expertise.
Mr. Lokesh Taridalu Shivakumar, Facility Director, Fortis Hospital Yeshwanthpur, said the successful management of this complex pediatric emergency reflects the hospital’s advanced multidisciplinary capabilities, cutting-edge technology, and commitment to delivering world-class pediatric critical care.
The case also serves as an important reminder for parents and caregivers to remain vigilant while young children are eating, as foreign body aspiration remains one of the leading causes of respiratory emergencies in toddlers. Early recognition and prompt medical intervention can be life-saving.