1.5 kg Tumor Removed from 4-Month-Old Baby at PMCH; Complex Surgery Gives Infant a New Life

Udaipur: Doctors from the Pediatric and Neonatal Surgery Department at Pacific Medical College & Hospital (PMCH) successfully performed a complex surgery to remove a 1.5 kg tumor from the abdomen of a 4-month-old infant, giving the child a new lease on life.

The successful operation was carried out under the leadership of Dr. Praveen Jhanwar, pediatric and neonatal surgeon, with the support of Dr. Urjita Modi, Dr. Nishant, Dr. Suhani, the anesthesia team comprising Dr. Swati, Dr. Shahid, Dr. Aryaman, and Dr. Kiran, and the PICU team including Dr. Puneet Jain, Dr. Dhara, Dr. Abhishek, alongside nursing staff Vishnu, Vivek, Shobhna, Manish, and Narendra.

The baby, a resident of Pratapgarh, had been suffering for 15 days from abdominal swelling and excessive crying. Initial consultations with local doctors brought no relief, and the family was advised to take the child to PMCH. Upon arrival, Dr. Praveen Jhanwar conducted a CECT abdomen scan, revealing a gastric tumor encasing a large portion of the stomach, measuring approximately 15x12 cm. Surgery was the only treatment option.

Recognizing the severity, Dr. Jhanwar and his team immediately decided to operate. Operating on such a young infant posed a significant challenge, but the experienced surgeons successfully performed a partial gastrectomy, removing the tumor along with half of the stomach. Post-surgery, the infant’s weight decreased to 2.6 kg. The removed tumor was sent for histopathological examination, which confirmed it as an immature mesenteric teratoma.

Dr. Praveen Jhanwar stated that the baby weighed only 4 kg at admission, of which 1.5 kg was the tumor alone. Following surgery, the infant was shifted to the PICU for close monitoring by Dr. Puneet Jain and his team. With meticulous post-operative care and medical vigilance, the baby has now fully recovered and has been discharged from the hospital.

The child’s parents expressed their heartfelt gratitude to the management, doctors, and nursing staff, saying that after being disappointed with other hospitals, they found new hope at PMCH.

PMCH Chairman Rahul Agrawal congratulated the doctors, stating, “This operation demonstrates our team’s expertise and the hospital’s state-of-the-art medical facilities. Our goal has always been to provide affordable, world-class treatment locally for even the most complex cases. Saving the life of such a tiny infant is a matter of immense pride for us.”