Govind Ballabh Pant Hospital has installed a Flexible Fiberoptic Bronchoscopy machine for the first time—making it possibly the second such facility in the Northeast, after Assam. The newly acquired equipment played a crucial role in saving the life of an 8-month-old infant who had accidentally swallowed a metallic object in August last year.
Addressing the media, Shankar Chakraborty, Medical Superintendent of GB Pant Hospital, hailed the achievement as a milestone for the ENT Department, which routinely handles complex medical procedures.
“This department has successfully performed a life-saving operation using advanced technology,” he stated.
Providing details of the case, Dr. Biplab Nath, Head of the ENT Department, shared that the infant, identified as Ujani Chakma from Natun Bazar, Gomati District, was initially admitted to Gomati District Hospital on August 6, 2024, with severe breathing difficulties. As her condition deteriorated, she was urgently referred to GB Pant Hospital the same day.
“The baby was in critical condition and struggling to breathe when she arrived. We immediately administered oxygen support and, after stabilizing her, conducted X-ray and CT scan tests. The scans revealed a 4mm metallic object lodged in her trachea. However, her family was unaware of how it got there,” Dr. Nath explained.
Previously, such cases posed significant challenges due to the lack of specialized equipment in the state. However, with the recent installation of the Flexible Fiberoptic Bronchoscopy machine, doctors successfully removed the foreign object through a two-hour surgical procedure.
“This state-of-the-art equipment, procured with the support of the state government, made it possible to save the baby. Without it, such cases would have required referral to Guwahati, the only other place in the Northeast with this technology,” Dr. Nath noted.
Following the surgery, the infant made a steady recovery and was discharged within three to four days. The installation of this critical medical technology at GB Pant Hospital marks a significant advancement in healthcare accessibility for Tripura.
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