Over the span of just three days, the skilled pediatric medical team at Rambam Health Care Campus (Rambam) in Haifa, Israel demonstrated expertise and rapid response in handling three critical cases involving young children who had ingested dangerous foreign objects.
Recently, three patients were brought to Rambam in need of urgent life-saving surgical intervention. In the first case, a two-year-old from the Haifa area was brought to the Cheryl Spencer Pediatric Emergency Department in the Ruth Rappaport Children’s Hospital at Rambam; he was struggling to drink and eat due to a foreign object lodged at the base of his tongue. Riad Shiekh, head nurse in the Pediatric Emergency Department explained the challenge, “The toddler had a hard time opening his mouth, making it difficult to identify the problem.” After sedation, the team discovered and successfully removed a plastic piece identified as a part of a mineral water bottle's sealing ring. The child quickly recovered and returned home after a brief observation period.
In another complex case, an eight-month-old baby, also from Haifa, required intervention after ingesting playdough, which had partially obstructed his airways. Professor Ron Shaoul, director of the Pediatric Liver, Gastroenterology, and Pediatric Nutrition Institute, stated, “Typically, foreign objects like this usually pass naturally, especially in younger patients, but intervention became necessary here.” Utilizing a camera-guided endoscope, the team successfully extracted all traces of the material, allowing the baby to be discharged feeling well.
A particularly alarming incident involved a five-year-old boy from Northern Israel, who swallowed a 7.5 cm long antenna from an electronic device. After receiving an immediate and clear diagnosis, he was transferred to the Pediatric Liver, Gastroenterology, and Pediatric Nutrition Institute. The Institute’s medical team, led by senior physician Dr. Jamal Gera, undertook a complex procedure to safely remove the object while the boy was sedated. The successful procedure averted significant internal damage, and the boy is expected to be released shortly. Solafa Khamaisi, head nurse at the Institute, highlighted the recurrent issue of children swallowing hazardous objects. “We keep a collection of retrieved objects, including antennas, spoons, magnets, and batteries, to educate parents and staff about household hazards. Our goal is to raise awareness and reduce these preventable incidents.”
The recent cases underline the vital role of Rambam’s dedicated pediatric teams in handling emergency situations and ensuring the safety and recovery of young patients. As these incidents demonstrate, vigilance and immediate medical intervention can be lifesaving.
Comentários