Doctors at Surya Mother and Child Hospital perform surgery to treat 4-year-old boy with Midgut Volvulus

New Delhi: The doctors at Surya Mother and Child Hospital, Pune successfully performed surgery to save the life of a four-year-old boy suffering from Midgut Volvulus, a condition where the intestine becomes twisted.

Midgut volvulus is a severe condition that is common among children and infants and often occurs within the first few weeks of life, caused by a congenital anomaly of the intestines -- leaving the child susceptible to sudden twisting of most of the intestines.

Symptoms include upper abdominal distension, bilious vomiting, and abdominal tenderness, signalling the need for immediate medical attention. While the condition is treatable, late detection of the condition could rapidly deteriorate the patient’s health and can be fatal.

"Delayed detection of midgut volvulus increases treatment challenges and risks of a high fatality rate," said Sachin Shah, Director - Neonatal and Pediatric Intensive Care Services, Surya Mother and Child Super Speciality Hospital, Pune.

Sankalp was initially treated at a tertiary care hospital in Varanasi, where he underwent surgery. However, his recovery was fraught with challenges, leading to multiple corrective surgeries that failed to improve his condition.

Despite the efforts, Sankalp's health continued to deteriorate, and his family was informed that further medical intervention seemed futile.

At the Pune hospital, the team of doctors assessed Sankalp's condition and opted for a re-surgery to address the condition.

During the extensive four-hour procedure, they encountered adhesions in Sankalp's abdomen, which had caused the intestines to adhere together, severely impairing their function.

"Despite these odds, the surgical team meticulously separated the intestines, repaired the damage, and restored their function during the extensive surgery," Sachin said.

With their effort, Sankalp made a "remarkable recovery within 48 hours post-surgery", reports news agency

After six days of abstaining from solid food, Sankalp was finally able to consume real food again, marking a significant milestone in his journey to health and recovery.

"Following a successful recovery, Sankalp was discharged after 10 days and closely monitored for the next three months. Once the doctors were satisfied with the healthy weight gain after a three-month follow-up period, Sankalp was discharged," the doctor said.