AIIMS doctors save 50-day-old baby with keyhole lung surgery

Doctors at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, have successfully performed a life-saving lung surgery on a 50-day-old baby weighing just 2.5 kilograms. The minimally invasive procedure performed on the infant is believed to be among the youngest and smallest cases of its kind in the country. The surgery highlights the growing role of advanced surgical techniques in saving the most fragile lives, doctors said on Thursday.

The infant, referred to AIIMS from Bihar, was suffering from congenital pulmonary airway malformation (CPAM), a rare condition in which part of the lung develops abnormally. In this case, the malformation was unusually large and located on the right side of the chest, compressing the healthy left lung. By the time the child reached AIIMS, he was gasping for breath and had to be placed on ventilator support immediately.

Doctors knew that without urgent surgical intervention, survival chances were slim. Yet, operating on such a young infant carried immense risk due to the child’s extremely low weight, age, and fragile condition.

Choosing keyhole over open surgery

Traditionally, such cases are treated through open chest surgery, which involves a large incision and prolonged recovery. The AIIMS team, however, chose a thoracoscopic (keyhole) approach, minimising trauma and ensuring quicker recovery.

Using specialised instruments just 3–5 millimetres in size, surgeons inserted a miniature camera into the baby’s chest. This allowed them to carefully navigate the tiny thoracic cavity and remove the diseased portion of the right lung through an incision barely one centimetre wide.

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During the high-stakes operation, the baby’s oxygen levels dropped dangerously. Swift coordination between the surgical and anaesthetic teams proved critical. Anaesthesia was managed by Dr Rakesh Kumar, who stabilised the baby at the most crucial moment, allowing the procedure to continue safely.

The surgery was led by Dr Vishesh Jain, professor, Department of Paediatric Surgery at AIIMS, who described it as one of the most challenging cases of his career.

“Operating on a 50-day-old infant weighing only 2.5 kilograms truly pushes the boundaries of what is possible with minimally invasive surgery. It was only the coordinated effort of surgeons, anaesthesiologists, nurses, and state-of-the-art facilities at AIIMS that made this success possible,” Dr Jain said.

Dr Sandeep Agarwala, professor and head of the Department of Paediatric Surgery, termed the surgery an achievement.

“This case reflects our commitment to ensuring that even the smallest and most fragile patients can access advanced surgical care. Performing such a procedure on a baby already on ventilator support speaks volumes about the skill and teamwork of our doctors,” he said.

Post-surgery, the infant showed steady improvement. Within days, he was breathing without ventilator support and recovering well. For the parents, who had travelled from Bihar in desperation, the successful surgery and their child’s survival brought immense relief.

“This was nothing short of a miracle for us. We were losing hope, but the AIIMS doctors gave our child a new life,” the father said with tears of gratitude.

Experts believe this is the youngest and smallest child in India to undergo such a complex thoracoscopic lung surgery—especially remarkable given that the baby was already on ventilator support before the operation.

By choosing a minimally invasive approach, the team avoided the pain, scarring, and long recovery associated with open surgery. For newborns and infants with fragile health, these advantages are life-changing.

Medical observers note that this achievement underlines AIIMS New Delhi’s pioneering role in paediatric minimal access surgery. The institute has long been at the forefront of advanced surgical care for children, and this case further strengthens its reputation for innovation and excellence.

Congenital pulmonary airway malformation is rare but potentially fatal if not treated in time. In most cases, surgery is necessary to remove the diseased lung tissue, allowing the healthy lung to expand. Advances in minimally invasive techniques now make it possible to perform such delicate surgeries even in infants weighing under 3 kilograms—something that was once thought impossible.

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This milestone also serves as a message of hope for families across India whose children suffer from rare and complex conditions. With improved medical infrastructure, training, and teamwork, hospitals like AIIMS are proving that even the tiniest lives can be saved.

For the family from Bihar, the journey from fear to hope has been a transformative experience. From the uncertainty of watching their newborn gasp for breath to the relief of seeing him breathe comfortably after surgery, the experience has been life-changing.