A seven-month-old baby swallowed a piece of a Purim 'jumpsuit' toy that blocked his windpipe and put his life at risk. Specialists from the Adult and Pediatric Otolaryngology Department at Shaare Zedek Medical Center performed emergency surgery to remove the swallowed piece; thanks to rapid monitoring and treatment, the baby resumed breathing naturally
A seven-month-old baby was taken to the pediatric emergency department at Shaarei Tzedek Medical Center after swallowing plastic from a Purim jumping jack game.
Specialists from the Pediatric and Adult Otolaryngology Department, in collaboration with specialists from the Emergency Medicine Department, performed a comprehensive assessment and examination, during which the dangerous part right at the entrance to the trachea was discovered, with a danger to the airway.
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Due to the immediate danger of choking and further complications to the trachea, it was decided that there was no alternative to surgery to extract the foreign body.
Dr. Jamil Gantos, a physician at the ENT department at Shaare Zedek: "The baby came to us drooling, hoarse, and having difficulty breathing. On examination, we saw that the piece was blocking both the esophagus and the trachea. The challenge in the surgery is, on the one hand, to extract the foreign body but to avoid damaging the surrounding tissues and, God forbid, to prevent the foreign body from entering deeper into the trachea and the pulmonary bronchus. With the assistance of the operating room anesthesiology team and using an endoscope, the tiny piece was located and successfully extracted.".
R., the toddler's mother, says that the swallowing incident happened in a matter of seconds while the toddler was playing with his sibling. "Usually we are very vigilant and practiced when it comes to creating a safe environment for toddlers. We have eight children, and we have never had a child choke. From the moment of swallowing, little S. had difficulty breathing. We were all terrified. We immediately went to the Shaarei Zedek emergency room, where we were explained that there was no alternative but to have surgery to remove the stuck part.
""There was great concern for his well-being, but the professional and dedicated team reassured us. The stuck part was successfully extracted and we are filled with gratitude to God for the great miracle that happened to us and to the team that saved S's life.".
""Children are very creative. I want to take the opportunity to call on parents and explain to siblings of small children to warn and explain to them seriously about the dangers involved in leaving small toy parts and foreign objects that could endanger the lives of babies.".
Dr. Anat Bahat Dinur, a head and neck surgeon at Shaare Zedek Medical Center, who also treated Sh., warns of the danger of swallowing foreign bodies in toddlers.
""Especially during the holidays, when there are plenty of perishable toys and sweets available to children, we encounter cases of inhalation or ingestion of foreign bodies, mainly in children aged 0-3. It should be remembered that the diameter of the entrance to a toddler's trachea is on average 4 mm and can easily become blocked. In many cases, parental vigilance and a quick response help save lives. However, it is better to prevent these cases in the first place by keeping small and dangerous objects out of reach of small children and babies.".
""The 'caps' used for toy guns come in a package that contains tiny plastic pieces that pose a choking hazard to toddlers. On this occasion, I urge parents to be careful about using fireworks, firecrackers, slingshots, sprays, various weapons, laser pointers and the like so that we can all have a happy holiday.".
