Mauled by Dogs While Shielding Sibling, 6-Year-Old’s Airway Reconstructed at AIIMS A six-year-old girl who suffered life-threatening dog bites on her neck while shielding her younger sibling from stray animals has been successfully treated at AIIMS-Nagpur, allowing her to breathe, speak, and swallow normally after a complex medical intervention. The incident occurred in February in Seoni, Madhya Pradesh, when the child was attacked by dogs. The trauma severely compromised her ability to breathe, leading to the immediate need for a tracheostomy—a procedure in which a tube is inserted into the windpipe through the neck to secure airflow. Local doctors performed an emergency tracheostomy before transferring her to AIIMS-Nagpur in May. Over the subsequent weeks, a multidisciplinary team of ENT surgeons, anaesthetists, and paediatric specialists at AIIMS meticulously reconstructed the damaged framework of her tiny larynx and restored the delicate lining of her airway. The treatment also addressed deep-seated infections caused by the dog bite, which posed one of the most complex challenges in paediatric care. Doctors emphasized that reconstructing a crushed and infected airway in a child requires a carefully planned, multi-stage approach, involving evaluations under general anaesthesia, intensive paediatric critical care, and multiple airway reconstruction procedures. The girl’s recovery process included intensive rehabilitation following the reconstructive surgeries. In the final stage of treatment, surgeons successfully performed decannulation, permanently removing the tracheostomy tube from her neck. Today, the child is breathing naturally, speaking clearly, and has returned home. She has also resumed schooling in Seoni. AIIMS Nagpur’s executive director, Dr.#madhya_pradesh #aiims_nagpur #dr_prashant_joshi #seoni #aiims_nagpur_ents_department
