A three-day-old baby girl from Tripura, born with a rare congenital Bochdalek Hernia, was saved after a life-saving emergency surgery performed by paediatric surgeon Dr. Aniruddha Basak at Tripura Medical College, marking a remarkable medical success story.
In a remarkable medical breakthrough, doctors at Tripura Medical College and Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Teaching Hospital have successfully saved the life of a three-day-old baby girl suffering from a rare and life-threatening congenital defect. The infant, born with Bochdalek Hernia, underwent a complex emergency surgery performed by noted paediatric surgeon Dr. Aniruddha Basak, restoring her chances of survival and earning praise from the medical community.
The baby, daughter of Mamata Das and Sahadev Das, residents of Kolomkhet in Urumai under Sonamura subdivision, was delivered via caesarean section at a private hospital on October 15. Soon after birth, the newborn developed severe respiratory distress each time she was breastfed. Alarmed by her deteriorating condition, doctors at the private facility referred the baby to GBP Hospital in Agartala for specialised care.
Despite two days of medical intervention, the infant’s condition worsened, prompting doctors to refer her to Tripura Medical College (TMC) on October 17 for advanced paediatric surgical management. There, she was admitted under the supervision of Dr. Aniruddha Basak, a leading paediatric surgeon known for handling complex neonatal surgeries.
Following a series of diagnostic evaluations and imaging tests, doctors identified that the baby was suffering from Bochdalek Hernia—a rare congenital defect in which abdominal organs move into the chest cavity through a hole in the diaphragm. In this case, the baby’s intestines had migrated into the left side of her chest, severely compressing her lung and restricting normal breathing.
According to Dr. Basak, immediate surgical intervention was the only option to save the infant’s life. “The child was in a critical condition. Her oxygen levels were dropping, and the chest cavity was compressed by abdominal organs. We decided to operate without delay,” he said.
On October 18, Dr. Basak led a two-hour-long emergency surgery to reposition the displaced abdominal organs and repair the diaphragmatic defect. The surgical team meticulously returned the intestines to their normal position and reconstructed the diaphragm. Hospital authorities later confirmed that the operation was successful and the infant began showing signs of recovery within hours of the procedure.
“The surgery went smoothly despite the complexity. The baby responded well to post-operative care and is now stable,” said a hospital spokesperson. “It was a team effort under Dr. Basak’s guidance, supported by our neonatal intensive care unit staff.”
The baby’s parents, Mamata and Sahadev Das, expressed heartfelt gratitude to the doctor and the hospital team. “We had almost lost hope when her condition was worsening. But Dr. Basak and his team gave our daughter a new life. We are forever thankful,” said the emotional father.
Hospital sources explained that Bochdalek Hernia is a rare and serious congenital anomaly that occurs in approximately one in 2,000 to 5,000 live births. The condition often leads to respiratory distress shortly after birth due to lung compression and requires immediate surgical correction.
Experts note that timely diagnosis and skilled surgical management are crucial for survival in such cases. Tripura Medical College has emerged as one of the few medical institutions in the Northeast capable of handling such high-risk neonatal surgeries.
Dr. Basak, who has performed several successful paediatric surgeries in recent years, said, “Early referral and prompt diagnosis made this success possible. It shows the importance of trained paediatric surgical units in regional hospitals.”
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As of now, the baby remains under observation in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Tripura Medical College. Doctors say her recovery progress is encouraging and she is expected to be discharged in a few days if her condition remains stable.
This successful operation highlights the growing capabilities of Tripura’s healthcare system in managing complex congenital disorders, offering hope to parents across the region facing similar medical challenges.
