Lucknow: In a remarkable medical achievement, doctors at King George’s Medical University (KGMU), Lucknow, successfully treated an 11-month-old infant suffering from severe hydrocephalus, a condition marked by excessive accumulation of fluid in the brain, bringing relief to a family that had been struggling for nearly a year to secure proper treatment.
The patient, Baby Sarada, is the son of Vikas Mahato, a resident of the Home Guards Headquarters area on Jail Road, Lucknow. According to the family, the condition was first detected during the eighth month of pregnancy, when doctors informed them about abnormal fluid accumulation in the baby’s head. After birth, the newborn developed an infection and had to be kept in the ICU for nearly two months. Due to personal and financial constraints, timely follow-up treatment could not be continued, leading to a dangerous delay in care.
As the months passed, the baby’s condition worsened significantly. The head size increased abnormally and vision-related complications also began to appear. The distressed family initially approached Jhalkari Bai Hospital, from where the child was referred to KGMU for specialised treatment. Medical experts noted that while the normal head circumference of an 11-month-old child ranges between 43 and 47 centimetres, Baby Sarada’s head circumference had alarmingly expanded to nearly 84 centimetres by the time he reached KGMU, indicating an advanced and critical stage of hydrocephalus.
The child was admitted to the Department of Paediatric Surgery at KGMU on January 5, where immediate medical intervention was initiated. After thorough evaluation, the medical team decided to perform a shunt surgery to drain excess cerebrospinal fluid from the brain. The surgery was successfully carried out on January 8.
Following the operation, the baby regained consciousness smoothly and showed encouraging signs of recovery. Doctors allowed oral feeding from the very next day. Medical reports indicate that the fluid accumulation in the child’s head has started reducing, there are no post-operative complications, and the baby’s overall condition is stable. The relieved family expressed immense gratitude and happiness over the successful outcome.
The surgical team was led by Professor J.D. Rawat, with Dr. Preeti Kumari as part of the operating team. Anaesthesia support was provided by Dr. Ayushi Bagga, while dedicated nursing care was ensured by Sanjay and Santosh.
Vice-Chancellor of KGMU, Professor Sonia Nityanand, congratulated Professor J.D. Rawat and his entire team for the successful surgery and lauded their commitment to delivering timely and life-saving medical care.
The case highlights the importance of early diagnosis and timely treatment of congenital neurological conditions, as well as the critical role played by tertiary care institutions like KGMU in handling complex paediatric cases and giving new hope to families in distress.
