Neurological procedure saves 8-month-old baby

She spent over two weeks on a ventilator

'Baby Fani' born in Odisha railway hospital as cyclone slams coast Representational Image

A ghastly accident changed the life of a family as their eight-month-old daughter was severely injured and spent over two weeks on a ventilator, and a month in Wockhardt Hospital in Mumbai. Their car crashed with a bike while they were returning from Gorai, Borivali. The baby has been discharged now and is recovering well.

The couple welcomed their first baby Misha (name changed) amid the pandemic and had to spend most of their time at home in order to minimise the risk of coronavirus and other infections. During the unlock phase, the family planned a vacation at Gorai, Borivali to break the monotony and unfortunately they met with an accident as they were returning from their holiday.

While other family members sustained minor injuries, the baby was fighting for her life at the hospital. She was reportedly in the front seat with her father when the bike dashed against the car and the airbags opened. The active airbags inflated and the baby was caught between the airbags and the grandfather’s head. She sustained a complex head injury and was admitted to the hospital in an emergency. "She was comatose on presentation and had a depressed skull fracture and the fragments of the fracture were pressing against the brain. Few fragments had torn the important veins in the brain. This led to increased hemorrhage which was dangerously compressing the vital centers of the brain making it extremely life-threatening," said Dr Ankit Gupta, Lead Paediatric Critical care specialist at the hospital.

After stabilising her and counseling the family, an emergency craniotomy was performed on the baby; a surgery which took two hours. The girl was then shifted to the ICU and put on the ventilator for two weeks. A craniotomy is a surgery to cut a bony opening in the skull. A section of the skull known as a bone flap is taken out so that the doctors are able to access the brain underneath and remove the hematomas or the blood clots from the left side of the brain before it causes damage. Once done, the bone flap is closed. According to doctors, Misha developed refractory seizures and raised intracranial pressure.

“We were elated on the birth of our first baby and adhered to Covid norms when we planned a family outing after so many months of staying out at home. Our world came crashing down when the accident left Misha unconscious with a head injury. She just didn't respond. Now, post surgery, we are proud that she was able to cheat death with the help of the doctors,” said the father, who requested anonymity for the family. Consultant neurologist, Dr Dipesh Pimpale said,“At the time of discharge, the baby was active, playful and feeding. She also recognised her parents. Currently with anti-seizure medicines and physiotherapy she is improving and gaining her milestones. Ideally, parents must understand that car seat must be installed in the middle of the back seat and the baby should not be left alone in the car seat."