Doctors successfully remove the foreign body from the toddler’s tiny airway with exceptional precision, preventing serious damage to the lungs and airway 

Doctors at Fortis Hospital Yeshwanthpur successfully saved the life of a 2-year-old boy who suffered nearly two weeks of severe respiratory distress after a peanut shell remained trapped deep inside his airway. The 15-day delay in seeking treatment led to significant inflammation and tissue growth around the foreign body, turning what is usually a standard removal procedure into a highly complex, two-hour emergency surgery.

The medical team led by Dr. Vivek Gundappa, Clinical Lead  Interventional Pulmonology, Fortis Hospital, Yeshwanthpur successfully performed a two-hour emergency bronchoscopic procedure (advanced procedure that uses a thin camera tube to examine and treat the lungs and airways) to safely extract the object, highlights the hospital’s advanced capabilities in handling critical pediatric airway emergencies. Foreign body aspiration is one of the leading causes of respiratory emergencies in young children, where delayed diagnosis can quickly turn fatal.

The toddler was brought to Fortis Hospital Yeshwanthpur with persistent fever, severe cough, breathlessness, and worsening respiratory distress. Initially, the symptoms were mistaken for routine respiratory infection, the parents initially sought treatment at multiple local hospitals without improvement. Upon detailed clinical evaluation at Fortis, including a chest X-ray and CT scan, doctors discovered a foreign body lodged in the airway, causing overinflation of one lung. Further evaluation confirmed that the child had accidentally inhaled a peanut shell while eating nearly 2 weeks prior.

Given the extremely narrow airway of a two-year-old, the medical team operated with exceptional precision to extract the shell without tearing the lung or airway tissue. Following the successful extraction, the child was closely monitored on ventilatory support overnight in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU). He showed steady recovery, as breathing normally and was discharged in stable condition after four days.

Giving details of 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. The removal required extraordinary precision, patience, and seamless coordination by our multidisciplinary team. Timely diagnosis and intervention played a crucial role in ensuring a successful outcome while preventing potentially serious complications.”

Dr. Uzair Baig, Consultant  Pulmonology, Fortis Hospital, Yeshwanthpur said, “Aspiration is often difficult to diagnose, especially when the incident isn’t witnessed by an adult. Young children presenting with persistent cough, fever, wheezing, or breathing difficulties that do not improve with routine treatment should always be evaluated for possible airway foreign body aspiration. Early diagnosis and prompt bronchoscopic intervention are critical to prevent long-term lung damage and other potentially life threatening complications.”

Sharing their experience, the boy’s parents said, “It was terrifying to watch our baby struggle to breathe while not knowing what was wrong. The doctors at Fortis Hospital Yeshwanthpur acted swiftly, diagnosed the issue immediately, and reassured us through a very frightening time. Seeing him back to his playful self and breathing normally is the greatest relief for our family. We are deeply grateful to the entire medical team for their care and expertise.”

Mr. Lokesh Taridalu Shivakumar, Facility Director, Fortis Hospital Yeshwanthpur said, “The successful management of this complex pediatric emergency reflects our hospital’s readiness to deliver advanced, multidisciplinary pediatric intensive care. By combining cutting edge technology with skilled specialists, we were able to turn a critical situation into a life saving success. We remain committed to the highest standards of clinical excellence.”