Fortis Escorts Hospital Jaipur Successfully Saves Autistic Child From Through Complex Rigid Bronchoscopy Procedure Permanent Lung Damage

Fortis Escorts Hospital Jaipur Successfully Saves Autistic Child From Permanent Lung Damage Through Complex Rigid Bronchoscopy Procedure  

-Autistic child’s inability to communicate clearly, delayed diagnosis of a peanut lodged in airway for three months, turning a common occurrence in children in to a complex, high-risk case- 

Jaipur, 25 July, 2026: In a rare case, where autism turned a common childhood accident into prolonged distress, doctors at Fortis Escorts Hospital Jaipur, have successfully removed a firmly lodged peanut along with its shell from the left lung of a three-year-old boy through rigid bronchoscopy. As the child was autistic, he was unable to communicate with his parents or doctors about his condition, which delayed the diagnosis and put his lungs and life at serious risk.  

The patient was suffering from a persistent cough, disturbed sleep, and laboured breathing for three months. He was initially put under the care of the family’s paediatrician who suspected asthma and prescribed routine cough medication and inhalers. When the condition did not improve, the patient was brought to Fortis Escorts Hospital, Jaipur for an examination under Dr. Vinod Kumar Sharma, Consultant Pulmonology, Critical Care & Expert Bronchoscopist, Fortis Escorts Hospital, Jaipur. A detailed evaluation was undertaken during which the parents revealed that the child had suffered a bout of cough lasting up to 30 seconds after eating peanuts three months back. This piece of information led the doctors to investigate further. A CT scan of the chest confirmed their suspicion. A 4 mm x 6mm unshelled peanut was seen stuck in the patient’s left airway with inflamed tissues around it. 

Given the patient’s young age, narrow and tender airways, the multidisciplinary team of doctors led by Dr. Vinod Kumar Sharma, Consultant Pulmonology, Critical Care & Expert Bronchoscopist, Fortis Escorts Hospital, Jaipur opted for rigid bronchoscopy under general anesthesia, which allows greater airway control throughout the procedure; this is a more complex technique in comparison to flexible bronchoscopy which can be used in older patients. The inflamed tissue and the peanut were successfully extracted in under 20 minutes. The patient was discharged symptom-free the next day.   

Dr. Vinod Kumar Sharma, Consultant Pulmonology, Critical Care & Expert Bronchoscopist, Fortis Escorts Hospital Jaipur, said, "Aspirated foreign bodies are common in children between 6 months and 3 years of age. Serious complications arise when this goes undiagnosed for a long time, including permanent lung damage. The child's autism made it difficult for him to speak about what he was feeling, and that further delayed diagnosis. This case is a reminder to all doctors and parents that if a child's cough is not improving with routine treatment, the possibility of a foreign body should not be ignored."  

Dr. Manish Agarwal, Facility Director, Fortis Escorts Hospital Jaipur, said, "In cases such as these where the patient is unable to express what he is going through, there is a bigger responsibility on the clinical team to look beyond what's standard. The successful outcome of this case is a reflection of the collaborative, multidisciplinary care we have built at Fortis Escorts Hospital, Jaipur."