A three-year-old boy from Jodhpur, named Ayaan, has successfully recovered his swallowing function following a complex reconstructive surgery at Ahmedabad Civil Hospital. The child had accidentally ingested a soap-making chemical on February 14, 2025, leading to severe corrosive injury to his oesophagus. Despite initial treatment at a local hospital, his condition worsened due to extensive damage, resulting in near-complete narrowing of the oesophagus.
Doctors at Ahmedabad Civil Hospital performed a feeding gastrostomy initially to ensure proper nutrition by direct feeding into the stomach. After months of close medical monitoring and nutritional rehabilitation, a staged surgical approach was taken due to the severity of the injury. Surgeons conducted a final reconstructive procedure on May 20, involving a gastric pull-up surgery led by Dr. Rakesh Joshi and his team.
During the operation, the damaged oesophagus was removed, and a cervical opening was created as part of the preparatory phase for reconstruction. The stomach was then mobilized and repositioned into the chest cavity to serve as a substitute for the damaged oesophagus. Following the successful surgery, Ayaan was able to resume oral feeding without any complications and was discharged in stable condition. The hospital provided all treatments, including surgical procedures, free of cost.
Hospital officials highlighted the collaborative effort of various medical teams, including paediatric surgery, anaesthesia, intensive care, and dietetics, which played a crucial role in Ayaan’s recovery. They also emphasized the importance of securely storing household chemicals to prevent accidental ingestion by children. Dr. Joshi advised immediate medical attention in cases of chemical ingestion, cautioning against attempting home remedies due to the potential life-threatening risks associated with such incidents.
