Calcutta Medical College doctors save 11-year-old after diligent lung surgery

An 11-year-old boy from Swarupnagar in North 24 Parganas was admitted to Calcutta Medical College after a metallic board pin was found lodged in his left lung. The boy, Ankan Biswas, had been experiencing severe chest pain, dry cough, and mild breathlessness for three to four days before seeking medical help. Initial treatment at a local doctor’s clinic did not relieve his symptoms.

Following the lack of improvement, Ankan was taken to Basirhat Government Hospital where an X-ray revealed the presence of a foreign metallic object in his lung. Due to the seriousness of the condition, he was referred to Calcutta Medical College for specialized treatment. He was admitted to the hospital in the early hours of Monday.

At Calcutta Medical College, the ENT department conducted further examinations, including a CT scan, which confirmed that a metallic pin approximately 2.5 centimeters long was lodged in the left bronchus of the lung. This caused the lung to collapse partially and created severe difficulty in breathing.

Dr. Diptanshu Mukhopadhyay, Associate Professor of the ENT department, stated, “When the boy was brought to us, his condition was critical with difficulty in breathing and persistent cough.” The lung was unable to expand normally due to the pin obstructing the airway.

A surgical team led by Dr. Mukhopadhyay, including Assistant Professor Dr. Bijan Adhikari, Dr. Tanaya Panja, and PGT Dr. Shubhrjyoti Naskar, performed a rigid bronchoscopy to carefully remove the pin. During the procedure, a minor injury occurred to the lung but the surgery was completed successfully.

Post-operation, Ankan was shifted to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit for close monitoring and is currently in stable condition. His parents have stated that they are unaware of how or when the pin entered his body. The case required urgent intervention due to the risk posed by the foreign body in the lung and its impact on respiratory function.