Doctors at Tripura Medical College (TMC) successfully performed a challenging surgery on a two-day-old newborn with a rare occipital encephalocele. The infant is stable, recovering well and has started oral feeding following the coordinated efforts of specialist surgical and anaesthesia teams.
A team of doctors at Tripura Medical College (TMC) and Dr BRAM Teaching Hospital has successfully performed a challenging surgery on a two-day-old female newborn suffering from a rare congenital condition known as occipital encephalocele. The newborn is currently stable, recovering well and has started taking oral feeds following the operation.
According to hospital sources, the baby girl, daughter of Rita Chakma, was born on November 3 at Chamanu Hospital in Tripura’s Dhalai district through normal vaginal delivery. Shortly after birth, doctors noticed a large swelling at the back of her head, raising concerns about a serious congenital abnormality requiring specialised medical attention.
The newborn was initially taken from Chamanu Hospital to Kulai Hospital and was subsequently referred to Tripura Medical College and Dr BRAM Teaching Hospital on November 4 for advanced treatment and further medical evaluation.
Following her admission, the medical team conducted the necessary investigations and stabilised the infant before planning the surgical procedure. After careful assessment, doctors decided to perform the operation on November 6.
Medical professionals diagnosed the condition as a huge occipital encephalocele, a rare birth defect in which the brain’s protective coverings and, in certain cases, brain tissue protrude through an opening in the skull. In this particular case, the sac predominantly contained cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and meninges. Its extremely thin wall and direct communication with the intracranial compartment made the surgery particularly challenging.
The operation lasted approximately two hours and required meticulous dissection and careful handling of delicate neurological structures to ensure the safety of the newborn.
The surgical team was led by Dr Aniruddha Basak, Paediatric and Neonatal Surgeon, with assistance from junior resident Dr Sankha Subhra Sarkar and intern Dr Mishari. Their coordinated efforts played an important role in successfully completing the complicated procedure.
The anaesthesia team, led by Dr Dipanka Debnath, was responsible for managing the newborn’s airway and administering anaesthesia throughout the operation. Hospital sources stated that the unusually large swelling at the back of the infant’s head created considerable technical difficulties during endotracheal intubation and airway management. Despite these challenges, the anaesthesia team successfully managed the situation and ensured the procedure proceeded smoothly.
Scrub nurse Bithika Das also provided essential assistance during the operation, contributing to the coordinated efforts of the medical team.
Following the successful surgery, the newborn’s postoperative condition has remained satisfactory. According to the hospital, the infant is currently stable, showing encouraging signs of recovery and has started taking oral feeds.
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The successful operation highlights the importance of specialised neonatal surgical care, timely referral and teamwork among medical professionals in managing rare and complex congenital conditions.
The coordinated efforts of the paediatric surgical, anaesthesia and nursing teams at Tripura Medical College and Dr BRAM Teaching Hospital made the challenging procedure possible, bringing relief and hope to the newborn’s family.
