A four-year-old boy from Purnea district in Bihar had a close call after accidentally swallowing a steel gearwheel from a toy while playing. The object, which became lodged in his vocal cord, was successfully removed by a doctor at the government hospital without the need for surgery.
The incident occurred two days ago in the Champanagar area of Purnea. The gearwheel's position in the child’s vocal cord caused his health to deteriorate rapidly. Once the family discovered the issue, they rushed him to a nearby health center, where doctors referred the case to a higher medical facility for specialized care.
In their search for help, the family visited multiple private clinics, but their pleas were turned down. Doctors at these facilities expressed concerns about the significant risk of life-threatening complications during surgical removal of the gearwheel.
Eventually, the family brought the child to the Government Medical College and Hospital in Purnea. Here, Dr. Vikas Kumar and his team managed to remove the object safely without surgery.
The child’s mother recounted the distressing experience, saying, “We went to many nursing homes, but no one agreed to treat him, fearing the surgery could be fatal. Exhausted and hopeless, we decided to visit the government hospital as our last hope. The doctor here saved my son’s life.”
Dr. Vikas Kumar explained that an X-ray confirmed the gearwheel was deeply lodged in the child’s vocal cord. “The object was sharp and had penetrated half of the windpipe, making the procedure extremely delicate. With the assistance of two staff members, we administered anesthesia and carefully extracted the gearwheel without causing further damage. The child is now recovering well and will continue on medication until the swelling subsides. Once healed, he will regain normal speech,” he said.
Dr. Sanjay Kumar, the Superintendent of the hospital, commended Dr. Vikas Kumar and staff members Nandan Kumar and Munchun Kumar for their skilled and prompt actions. The grateful family expressed their heartfelt thanks to the medical team for saving their child’s life.
(Input from various sources)
(Rehash/Sai Sindhuja K/MSM)