Pune: Doctors at Manipal Hospital, Baner, have successfully treated a 3-day-old newborn suffering from intestinal malrotation with midgut volvulus, which is a congenital intestinal emergency that can quickly become fatal. The baby’s life was saved by early symptom detection, timely diagnostic imaging, and rapid corrective surgical intervention. The baby was born at Manipal Hospital, Baner and was stable at first. But on the second day, the newborn struggled with oral intake and started throwing up after each feeding. The paediatric team quickly started doing more tests after identifying these warning signs.
Speaking about the case, Dr Paritosha Dalal, Consultant – Paediatric and Neonatal Surgeon, Manipal Hospital Baner, said, This condition is a surgical emergency. The baby boy was promptly evaluated, and urgent abdominal sonography with higher imaging studies were carried out, which confirmed that it was a type of obstruction at the beginning of the small intestine called Intestinal malrotation with midgut volvulus. Here,e the improperly positioned intestines wrap around their own blood supply (superior mesenteric artery), thereby putting the newborn at a high risk of cutting off the blood supply tothe intestine leading to bowel gangrene. The newborn was brought in for surgery right away to save his intestines.
She states that “Urgent restoration of blood flow in such situations is critical to avoid irreparable bowel damage and save the intestines.” The neonatal surgical team, headed by Dr Paritosha Dalal, utilised techniques and procedures to meticulously untwist the bowel, thus immediately restoring its blood supply and preventing gangrene. The newborn's digestive function was preserved thanks in large part to the immediate intervention.”
Further, she added, “Such newborns are at higher risk of suffering from necrotising enterocolitis (NEC), which can lead to perforation of bowel. This baby needed further emergency surgical procedure to deal with a similar perforation and removethe damaged section of intestine. The baby was kept under observation inthe neonatal intensive care unit and received extensive neonatal and surgical care. The baby showed consistent progress and was released in stable condition after nearly three weeks of intensive medical treatment. The baby is right now regularly monitored for weight gain and healthy feeding patterns and has shown consistent improvement in its growth.”
Mr Anand Mote, Cluster Director, Manipal Hospital Baner, Pune Said, “We at Manipal Hospitals continuously deliver exceptional medical treatment, even in uncommon and complex circumstances. This instance shows the value of interdisciplinary teamwork, cutting-edge technology, and extensive clinical knowledge available under one roof.”
The procedure was led by a multidisciplinary team comprising Paediatric Surgeon Dr Paritosha Dalal, Paediatricians Dr Mubashishir Khan (Neonatologist) and Dr Ujjwala Keskar, along with the Neonatal ICU and radiology teams. This successful outcome underscores the critical role of quick diagnosis, prompt surgical action, and integrated hospital expertise in managing life-threatening neonatal conditions.