A Chinese doctor travelled 650 kilometres to save a baby. The 10-month-old infant suffered from difficulty in breathing and no nearby doctor could treat him.
In this article, you’ll read:
- A Doctor Travels Hundreds of Kilometres to Perform a Life-Saving Surgery
- The Child’s Father Appealed to the Health Officials in Shenzhen
- What Is Vocal Cord Paralysis?
A Doctor Travelled 650 Kilometres to Perform a Life-Saving Surgery
Image source: iStock
On the 14th of March 2022, a mum gave birth to a baby boy in Quanzhou, Fujian. However, the doctors noticed something different to the newborn baby during that time.
Ever since the baby was born, he was crying in a low voice. Aside from that, he was also not able to breathe independently.
Immediately after the doctors noticed, they sent the little boy to the intensive care unit (ICU). The first thing they do is place a ventilator on the baby at Quanzhou Children’s Hospital.
A medical expert from Shenzhen, China, travelled 650 kilometres to the country’s eastern Fujian province. He immediately went to the area to carry out life-saving surgery on a newborn baby.
Congenital Bilateral Vocal Cord Paralysis
The newborn baby boy was diagnosed with a medical condition known as congenital bilateral vocal cord paralysis. It represents 15% to 20% of all cases of congenital anomalies of the larynx. Aside from that, it may affect one (unilateral) or both (bilateral) vocal cords.
The disorder causes difficulty in breathing; it could also be life-threatening. The patient can’t control the muscles that open and close the vocal cord. It results from nerve damage that can narrow or block the airway. Unfortunately, doctors at the hospital said that they could not treat it due to a lack of medical expertise.
The Child’s Father Appealed to the Health Officials in Shenzhen
The little boy’s father, Li Liangliang, searched for doctors online who had the expertise to treat such a young patient. He then discovered that in mainland China, only doctors in Shanghai and Shenzhen are capable of treating patients with the disorder.
Shanghai is under a coronavirus lockdown at present. The father then appealed to the health officials in Shenzhen for help.
Fortunately, the Shenzhen Municipal Health Commission responded hours after Mr Li posted on social media. They informed the father that they would send Shenzhen Children’s Hospital experts to Quanzhou to perform the life-saving surgery.
The Doctor Travelled 650 Kilometres Away From Shenzhen
Image source: iStock
On the 5th of April 2022, Dr Pan Hongguang and a colleague immediately pack their surgical instruments. They travel to Quanzhou, which is about 650 kilometres away from Shenzhen.
The doctor decided in contrast to the traditional method of cutting the trachea in surgery. According to him, he felt that the traditional way would lead to speech difficulties for the baby later in life.
Another possibility is that the child would have to wear a tracheal tube for the rest of his life. It could cause a risk of recurrent infections. Judging the situation, Dr Hongguang chose a minimally invasive surgery. He aims to move the two vocal cords to let more air through.
“It’s like pulling two doors’ hinges back a bit and fixing them in place,” said Dr Hongguang. “In order to create more space for airflow and enable smoother breathing.”
He also reassures, “This surgery also will not affect the patient’s ability to speak. If successful, there is no need to cut the trachea.”
It took them two and a half hours to finish the surgery on the 6th of April 2022. At present, the little boy is recovering well. On the fifth day, he was able to breathe on his own.
On the 18th of April, the baby boy was discharged from the hospital. The father expressed his gratitude to the doctor right after Dr Pan returned to Shenzhen. He asked a friend in Shenzhen to send a red silk banner as a gift to show his gratitude.
“Excellent medical skills! Love warms the world,” stated in the banner. Dr Pan was grateful to receive the appreciation from the father. He then said, “We are delighted to receive recognition from the patient’s family.”
What Is Vocal Cord Paralysis?
Vocal cord paralysis is when the vocal cords cannot move on one side (unilateral) or both sides (bilateral). This commonly happens when the nerve impulses to the vocal cord are interrupted.
In addition, vocal cord paralysis often causes one vocal cord to be unable to reach the other. When this happens, it could create a gap between the vocal cords. This condition can affect your child’s ability to speak and breathe.
Signs and Symptoms of Vocal Cord Paralysis
- A weak voice with short breaths
- A low-volume cry
- Aspiration of liquids into the windpipe (trachea)
- Breathing with noise or high-pitched sound (stridor)
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