In a remarkable medical achievement, doctors at Tripura Medical College and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Teaching Hospital successfully saved the life of a three-day-old baby girl born with a rare and life-threatening congenital condition. The complex emergency surgery was performed by paediatric surgeon Dr. Aniruddha Basak and his team.
The newborn, daughter of Mamata Das and Sahadev Das from Kolomkhet in Urumai under Sonamura subdivision, was delivered via caesarean section at a private hospital on October 15. Soon after birth, the baby developed severe respiratory distress during feeding. Alarmed by her condition, doctors at the private hospital referred her to GBP Hospital, Agartala, the same day. Despite two days of treatment, her condition worsened, prompting a transfer to Tripura Medical College for specialized paediatric surgical care on October 17.
Upon detailed evaluation, doctors diagnosed the infant with Bochdalek Hernia—a rare congenital defect where abdominal organs move into the chest cavity through an opening in the diaphragm. In this case, the baby’s intestines had entered the left side of the chest, compressing the lung and making breathing extremely difficult.
Recognizing the urgency, Dr. Basak conducted a two-hour emergency surgery on October 18, during which the abdominal organs were carefully repositioned, and the diaphragmatic defect was repaired. The operation was successful, and the baby responded well to post-operative care. Hospital authorities confirmed that the infant is now stable and recovering steadily.
The grateful parents thanked Dr. Basak and the medical team for their swift and skilled intervention, crediting them with saving their child’s life. Hospital sources noted that Bochdalek Hernia is a rare but critical condition that requires expert surgical management—an area where Dr. Basak and his team have demonstrated exceptional expertise.
