HYDERABAD: A four-weekold baby Shareef Fatima was given a new lease of life by ENT surgeons at Care Hospital, as she was saved from a life-threatening nasal disorder called Bilateral Congenital Bony Choanal Atresia. Bilateral Choanal Atresia is a rare problem with incidence of one in 7,000 live births. There will be complete obstruction of both the nasal openings, thus presenting itself as a life-threatening acute respiratory emergency at birth.
“In case of Shareef Fatima, who was born prematurely after 33 weeks of pregnancy, both the nostrils were blocked. Born at Nice Hospital in Banjara Hills, she was brought to Care Hospital while she was just a week-old on ventilator. After initial examination we found that endoscopic nasal surgery was the only option to save her,” said Dr N Vishnu Swaroop Reddy, chief ENT consultant and facial plastic surgeon, Care Hospitals.
But as Shareef Fatima was a premature baby her lungs were not developed and even giving anaesthesia was ruled out. But surgeons performed emergency endoscopic surgery and stenting under general anaesthesia to save her. “Baby was taken for emergency endoscopic surgery for bilateral choanal atresia repair and stentingunder general anaesthesia.
The nasal passages were reconstructed to relieve nasal obstruction and after he successful surgery baby was weaned off from ventilator on the second day post operation, with stents in placed in nose. The stents are kept in the nose for about 4 to 6 weeks to maintain nasal breathing and will be removed later,” Vishnu Swaroop further said. Shareef Fatima was presented before media on Thursday, and the joy of her parents knew no bounds as two of their children did not survive due to various problems and the third child who was very precious to them was saved.