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By:

Quaid Najmi

4 January 2025 at 3:26:24 pm

Surgery saves boy who gulped tiny LED bulb

Mumbai : In a bizarre development, a small boy from Kolhapur swallowed a tiny LED light bulb a few months ago that got stuck deep in his...

Surgery saves boy who gulped tiny LED bulb

Mumbai : In a bizarre development, a small boy from Kolhapur swallowed a tiny LED light bulb a few months ago that got stuck deep in his lung causing huge trauma and emotional stress for his family, officials said.   When the unusual case was referred to the Jaslok Hospital & Research Centre (JHRC), a team of medicos successfully extricated the foreign object lodged in the three-and-half-year-old boy’s chest.   Recounting the remarkable feat, a JHRC official said the child, Aarav Patil was reported to be suffering from severe breathing difficulties and incessant coughing for almost three months.   Doctors treating him at his home town initially mistook it for pneumonia and subjected him to multiple courses of antibiotics and other medicines, but there was improvement in the boy’s condition.   Subsequently, he was taken for advanced tests, examinations and a CT Scan which revealed the shocker – a metallic object was sitting inside the boy’s left bronchus, partially blocking the airway.   More tests identified the offending object – it was a LED bulb from a toy car – a development so rare that even seasoned doctors described it as a ‘one in a million case’.   Though doctors in Kolhapur attempted to retrieve the foreign body through flexible bronchoscopy - a minimally invasive procedure - the attempts proved to be unsuccessful.   As Aarav’s condition appeared to deteriorate, his desperate family rushed him to JHRC and he was referred to a team of specialist doctors.   After studying his case and examining Aarav, the medical team comprising thoracic surgeon Dr. Vimesh Rajput, ENT surgeon Dr. Divya Prabhat and Dr. Anurag Jain discovered that the bulb had not only blocked the bronchus but had also embedded itself in the surrounding tissues of the lung tissue, making its removal extremely challenging.   A rigid bronchoscopy conducted further confirmed the severity of the obstruction. Left with no other option, the doctors decided to opt for a mini thoracotomy — a delicate surgery involving a 4-centimeter incision in the chest.   “This was one of the rarest cases we’ve encountered. The bulb was lodged in such a way that conventional methods could not retrieve it. Through careful planning and teamwork, we managed to safely remove the object by a mini thoracotomy and restored Aarav’s lung function,” explained Dr. Rajput.   Emphasising how such cases are ignored, Dr. Prabhat pointed out that chronic cough or breathing issues are often dismissed as common pneumonia or even asthma.   “However, such persistent symptoms must always be investigated thoroughly, especially through early detection and imaging which can make all the difference to the patient,” she averred.   JHRC CMO Dr. Milind Khadke said, “The foreign body aspiration in kids is far more common that parents may realise but quick intervention is critical to prevent long-term medical complications.”

Under The Shadow of Tainted Image

Updated: Oct 30, 2024

Aaditya Thackeray

Past two and a half years had been the toughest time for the Thackeray family after the rebellion within the party and Uddhav had to resign as Chief Minister in June 2022. Aaditya Thackeray showed great resilience in the assembly as well as on the streets of Mumbai during this period and effectively attacked and exposed the state government, which he calls an ‘illegal government’. Now that when the elections are less than a month away, whether he will be able to show the toughness necessary to save his party is a big question.


Aaditya not just carries the legacy of his forefathers but also speaks of changing the face of the politics. He implemented some impressive ideas as a minister under his father. He cares for the environment, for animals, for health of people. This concern was seen in his actions like his insistence on open gyms at Marine Drive or the huge expenditure incurred on bringing penguins to the zoo in Mumbai. However, he received more criticism than praises for such actions.


His political journey reflects a blend of youthful energy and a commitment to his party’s legacy. His focus on environmental issues and sustainable development continues to shape his political agenda. However, on the other said that he hardly seems to have any connect with the common people, even the voters of his party, and survives only on the image of his forefathers and swanky ideas about environment which hardly resonate with the traditional voters of his party.


Aaditya, 34, completed his schooling at Bombay Scottish School at Mahim and later graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from St. Xavier’s College. He also holds a law degree from KC Law College, Mumbai. He also has keen interest in literature and poetry. He has published a book of poems titled “My Thoughts in White and Black” and a music album “Ummeed”.


He had been involved in party affairs even before 2010 when he was appointed as the President of the Yuva Sena, the youth wing of the party. In 2019, he became the first member of his family to contest and win an election. As an MLA from the Worli constituency, he symbolized the generational shift in the party’s leadership.


Under his father Aaditya held several key ministerial positions in Maharashtra government and served as the Cabinet Minister for Tourism and Environment from 2019 to 2022. While much of that period was lost in COVID, it also saw his name being linked to several cases including deaths of actor Sushantisingh Rajput and Disha Salian. He and his father are also blamed for delay in crucial infrastructure project like the Mumbai Underground Metro line. His image of an ‘anti-development’ politician is a biggest challenge for him to overcome.

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