Kolkata : Five-year-old Arya Saha (name changed),
a resident of Alipurduar, has made a remarkable recovery at Manipal Hospital,
Mukundapur, a unit of India’s leading healthcare network, Manipal Hospitals
Group, after being treated for a massive right-sided pleural empyema (a
serious infection marked by the accumulation of pus in the space between the
lungs and the chest wall). The case was managed under the expert supervision of
Dr. Subhasis Saha, Consultant – Paediatric Surgery, Manipal Hospital
Mukundapur and Dr. Sayantan Bhowmick, Associate Consultant, Paediatric
Pulmonology, Manipal Hospital Mukundapur.
Arya had been experiencing high fever and
severe breathing difficulties for nearly a week before being admitted to a
local hospital in North Bengal. As his condition deteriorated, he was referred
to Manipal Hospital, Mukundapur, for specialized paediatric care. At admission, Arya was in severe
respiratory distress, as the infected fluid was compressing his right lung
and making breathing extremely difficult. After rapid stabilisation, the team at
the hospital, decided on early Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery (VATS),
a minimally invasive procedure to drain the infection and allow the lung to
expand.
Following the operation, Arya required mechanical
ventilation (a breathing machine) for about ten days because the right lung
initially failed to fully re-expand, and a pneumothorax (air leak in the
lung) developed. Under the vigilant supervision of the Paediatric
Intensive Care team, led by Dr Saumen Meur, Senior Consultant,
Paediatric Intensive Care along with Dr Monideepa Dutta, Consultant Paediatric
Intensive Care precise ventilatory strategies, infection control, and
lung-protective physiotherapy were implemented. Gradually, the lung expanded,
the air leak resolved, and Arya was successfully taken off the ventilator and
discharged in excellent health.
While discussing the case, Dr. Subhasis
Saha, Consultant – Paediatric Surgeon, Manipal Hospital, Mukundapur, said,
“Empyema in children can progress rapidly and, if not treated in time, can
become life-threatening. In Arya’s case, early surgical intervention through
minimally invasive Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery (VATS) was vital to
remove the infection and help his lung expand again. Paediatric surgery is not
just about precision it’s also about understanding the fear and anxiety that
families go through when their child is unwell. Our team worked closely with
the parents at every step to ensure they felt supported and informed. Seeing
the child recover, smile, and go back to his normal, playful self after such a
critical illness is the most fulfilling outcome we could hope for.”
Dr Sayantan Bhowmick, Associate Consultant,
Paediatric Pulmonology, Manipal Hospital Mukundapur, who guided Arya’s respiratory care, said,
“When a child comes in with such a serious lung infection, every minute
counts. Arya’s lungs were filled with pus, which made it very hard for him to
breathe. Our first step was to remove the pus through a minimally invasive
surgery called VATS, so the lung could start working again. While he was on the
breathing machine, we carefully monitored his oxygen levels and used medicines
to fight infection and reduce inflammation. We aimed to minimise airway
pressures, optimise drainage and antibiotic therapy, and support the lung’s
natural healing process with structured physiotherapy. This case is a strong
reminder that teamwork, timely surgery, and round-the-clock care can make all
the difference in saving a child’s life.”
Arya’s mother, said, “Watching my little boy gasping for breath and
burning with high fever for seven relentless days was nothing short of a
nightmare. After trying treatment locally and seeing no improvement, we had to
travel all the way to Manipal Hospital, Mukundapur, hoping for specialized
care. From the moment we arrived, the doctors and nurses were compassionate,
calm, and extremely thorough, explaining every step and ensuring Arya was
comfortable. Thanks to their exceptional care and dedication, Arya is now back
home, healthy, and full of energy. We will always be deeply grateful to the
entire team for giving our son a second chance at life.”
This success story highlights Manipal
Hospital Mukundapur’s expertise in comprehensive paediatric respiratory and
critical care, where close collaboration between pulmonology, intensive
care, and paediatric surgery ensures that even severe and complicated cases can
have the best possible outcomes for children.