After seven unsuccessful procedures, Gandhi Hospital surgeons reconstruct 20-year-old’s windpipe

A 20-year-old man who underwent seven unsuccessful procedures to widen his narrowed windpipe has regained normal breathing after doctors at Gandhi Hospital, Secunderabad, performed a complex surgery to remove a 4-cm obstructed section and reconnect the airway.

The patient, Sandeep, had a severe narrowing of the trachea, with 90% to 95% of the passage obstructed, restricting the flow of air to his lungs. A team of doctors performed the surgery on September 30, free of cost.

Sandeep’s ordeal began in 2018, when he required ventilator support at a private hospital after consuming pesticide. During his treatment, a tracheostomy was performed, creating an opening in his windpipe to facilitate breathing. In 2019, persistent breathing difficulties led him to consult doctors at Koti ENT Hospital. An attempt to close the opening proved unsuccessful because the tracheal passage had narrowed.

Between 2019 and 2022, he underwent seven dilation procedures to widen the narrowed passage. However, the procedures failed to provide lasting relief, prompting doctors to insert a Montgomery tube in July 2022 to help maintain the airway. Four years later, the tube was removed after medical examinations. However, his breathing difficulties returned and worsened over the following three months. He also developed a snoring sound while breathing.

Doctors at Koti ENT Hospital suggested creating another opening in his windpipe. Unwilling to undergo another such procedure, Sandeep sought treatment at a private hospital, where surgery was recommended at an estimated cost of ₹7 lakh to ₹8 lakh. 

He subsequently learnt about the treatment available at Gandhi Hospital through an ENT specialist and approached the government facility for further evaluation. Examinations revealed that the trachea was 90% to 95% obstructed, making urgent surgical intervention necessary. The doctors decided to remove the affected section and reconnect the remaining portions of the windpipe.

During the operation, the surgeons removed the 4-cm-long obstructed segment and sutured the remaining ends together to restore the airway. Following the procedure, Sandeep’s condition improved significantly, with his breathing difficulties and wheezing resolving completely.