By Firstdespatch Desk Jun 01, 2026
Agartala, June 1 (FD) Doctors at Tripura Medical College (TMC) and Dr BRAM Teaching Hospital have successfully performed a complex life-saving surgery on a two-day-old infant born with a rare and potentially fatal congenital defect, marking a significant achievement in neonatal healthcare in the state.
The baby, born to a family from Melaghar in Sepahijala district, was diagnosed with left-sided congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH), a serious birth defect in which abdominal organs migrate into the chest cavity through an abnormal opening in the diaphragm. The condition restricts lung development and severely affects breathing, posing a major risk to survival if left untreated.
The anomaly was detected during a prenatal examination at 32 weeks of pregnancy. Following detailed consultations and medical evaluations, specialists devised a comprehensive treatment plan well before the delivery.
The infant was delivered through a caesarean section at AGMC and GBP Hospital on May 19 and was immediately referred to the Paediatric Surgery Department of TMC and Dr BRAM Teaching Hospital for specialised care. Subsequent investigations confirmed the diagnosis, prompting doctors to undertake urgent corrective surgery.
The operation was carried out on May 20 when the newborn was just two days old. Led by noted paediatric and neonatal surgeon Dr Aniruddha Basak, the two-hour procedure involved repairing the diaphragmatic defect and carefully repositioning the displaced abdominal organs into their normal location within the abdominal cavity.
Hospital authorities said the surgery was successful and the infant showed steady improvement during post-operative care. The baby responded well to treatment, gradually resumed normal feeding and was expected to be discharged following a satisfactory recovery.
The child's mother recounted the family's anxiety after learning of the diagnosis during pregnancy but expressed relief and gratitude as the baby is now healthy and recovering well.
Medical experts described congenital diaphragmatic hernia as a rare yet life-threatening condition that requires highly specialised neonatal management and timely surgical intervention. They noted that the successful outcome was the result of coordinated efforts by paediatric surgeons, neonatologists, anaesthesiologists, nursing personnel and the Special Newborn Care Unit (SNCU) team.
The achievement highlights the growing capabilities of Tripura's healthcare institutions in handling complex neonatal and paediatric surgical cases, offering advanced treatment closer to home for patients across the state. FD JK