Ahmedabad: A challenging and life-threatening case came to light at Civil Hospital when a toddler, Vansh, accidentally swallowed a plastic toy figure of ‘Hulk’ while playing at home. The incident occurred on January 18, when the child suddenly appeared distressed and began vomiting. His mother, Bhavikaben, grew suspicious after noticing that one of his toys was missing. Upon questioning, the child indicated that he had swallowed it.

The family immediately rushed him to Civil Hospital, where doctors, through an X-ray examination, found that the complete toy was lodged inside the child’s stomach.

Doctors describe high-risk procedure

Providing details about the complex case, Dr. Rakesh Joshi, Head of the Department of Pediatric Surgery, explained that the toy was not a small fragment but a full-sized figure with arms, legs, and a head. “The biggest challenge was removing such a large object through the natural valve between the esophagus and the stomach. If it had moved further into the intestines, it could have caused blockage or even rupture,” Dr. Joshi said.

He added that the toy repeatedly slipped during the endoscopic attempt due to air inside the stomach. Pulling it by the limbs could have caused it to get stuck in the valve, leading to permanent damage. With extreme care and patience, the surgical team managed to grip the toy by its head and successfully extract it without complications.

The procedure was carried out on January 19, even as the department was hosting the International Bladder Exstrophy Workshop. Despite the ongoing event, Dr. Joshi personally led the emergency intervention, assisted by Dr. Sweta and the anesthesia team.

Child stable, parents urged to remain cautious

Following the procedure, Vansh has fully recovered and is now healthy. The child’s father, Bhaveshbhai Sahani, expressed gratitude and urged other parents to remain vigilant. “Children should never be allowed to play with such small toys without supervision. Because of the prompt action and skill of Civil doctors, my son is going home safely today,” he said.

Civil Hospital has made the case public to raise awareness among parents and prevent similar incidents in the future. DeshGujarat