Emergent Surgery Saves Life Of COVID-Afflicted 11-Year-Old In Bhubaneswar

Bhubaneswar: Pediatric surgeons at the SUM Covid Hospital here conducted emergency surgery on a COVID-afflicted 11-year-old girl to save her life.

The girl, who complained of severe pain in the abdomen, was taken to a hospital where she tested positive for the virus. She was then promptly shifted to the SUM COVID Hospital on October 27 and admitted to the ICU.

Consultant Pediatric Surgeon at the IMS and SUM Hospital, Lalit Parida said the ultrasound report conducted on the patient elsewhere showed that she was suffering from appendicitis and needed immediate attention.

After the required blood tests were conducted, she was shifted to the dedicated operation theatre for surgery.

“While appendectomy was conducted successfully, it was found that the girl had perforated appendicitis with fecolith in it along with pyoperitoneum though the report did not indicate any such thing,” said Parida.

This case was similar to another that he conducted on a COVID positive 14-year-old girl in the hospital in May.

“Academic literature is now supporting the view that appendicitis in COVID positive children can be of serious nature requiring emergent surgery,” he said.

The child is now was in a healthy condition and awaiting discharge from the hospital.

“The hospital authorities regularly informed him about the condition of the child and the treatment she was getting including surgery. We cannot forget the way the doctors, nurses and other staff in the hospital treated my daughter,” said Ajay Nayak, father of the girl.