Kochi: Doctors at VPS Lakeshore Hospital successfully saved a toddler after she accidentally inhaled a pearl from a toy, which became lodged deep inside her lung. The pearl was removed through an emergency bronchoscopy, averting a potentially life-threatening situation.
The child, a native of Fort Kochi, was first taken to two hospitals in the city after developing breathing difficulty. However, due to the lack of specialised paediatric bronchoscopy facilities, she was referred to VPS Lakeshore Hospital for advanced care.
Following clinical evaluation and imaging, the Department of Pulmonology confirmed that the pearl had become lodged deep inside the child's airway. An emergency bronchoscopy was immediately performed under general anaesthesia by the Pulmonology team led by Dr Hari Lakshmanan, in collaboration with the Department of Anaesthesiology. The pearl was carefully retrieved using a bronchoscope without causing lung injury. The child recovered well and was discharged in stable condition.
"We were terrified when our child suddenly developed breathing difficulty. She told us that she had accidentally inhaled a pearl from her toy. We tried first-aid measures after watching online videos, but nothing helped. We are extremely grateful to the doctors and staff at VPS Lakeshore Hospital for saving our child," said the child's mother, who requested anonymity.
Dr Hari Lakshmanan emphasised that foreign body aspiration is a medical emergency, particularly in young children.
"Whenever choking is suspected, parents should immediately attempt first-aid measures such as five back blows followed by five abdominal thrusts (Heimlich manoeuvre), if appropriate. If these measures fail, the child must be rushed without delay to a centre equipped with paediatric bronchoscopy facilities and experienced specialists. Timely referral and coordinated teamwork are crucial for a successful outcome," he said.
Dr Hari Lakshmanan added that VPS Lakeshore Hospital has successfully managed several complex cases of foreign body aspiration over the years, including the removal of a metallic pin from a toddler's airway and a fish bone that had remained lodged in a patient's lung for more than a year.
"Timely referral to centres equipped with specialised paediatric bronchoscopy facilities is crucial in such cases. Any delay in treatment can lead to complete blockage of the airway, severe lung infections and other life-threatening complications. Parents should seek immediate medical attention if they suspect that a child has inhaled a small object," he said.
Doctors advised parents to keep small objects such as toy pearls, beads, buttons, coins, batteries, pins and nuts out of children's reach. Sudden choking, persistent coughing, noisy breathing or difficulty in breathing should always be treated as a medical emergency, and the child should be taken to the nearest hospital immediately.