A three-year-old boy from Jodhpur has regained full swallowing function after undergoing a rare and complex gastric pull-up surgery at Ahmedabad Civil Hospital, following severe corrosive damage to his oesophagus caused by accidental ingestion of a soap-making chemical. The case, which required months of staged medical intervention, has drawn attention to the dangers of household chemical exposure in young children.

How the Injury Occurred

The child, Ayaan, accidentally consumed the corrosive soap-making chemical on 14 February 2025 while playing at his grandfather's home in Jodhpur. He quickly developed severe difficulty swallowing both liquids and solids. Initial treatment at a local hospital failed to improve his condition, and further evaluation confirmed extensive corrosive injury resulting in near-complete narrowing of the oesophagus.

He was subsequently referred to Ahmedabad Civil Hospital, where doctors first performed a feeding gastrostomy — a procedure to deliver nutrition directly into the stomach, bypassing the damaged oesophagus. Over the months that followed, Ayaan underwent structured nutritional rehabilitation and periodic assessments to stabilise his condition ahead of definitive surgery.

The Staged Surgical Approach

Given the severity of the corrosive injury, hospital officials said a staged surgical strategy was necessary. On 17 November, surgeons removed the severely damaged oesophagus and created a cervical opening as a preparatory step for reconstruction.

The critical final procedure — the gastric pull-up surgery — was performed on 20 May by a multidisciplinary team led by Dr Rakesh Joshi, alongside Dr Jayashree Ramji and anaesthesia specialist Dr Seema Gandhi. In this operation, the stomach was mobilised and repositioned into the chest cavity to serve as a functional substitute for the lost oesophagus.

What the Doctors Said

Dr Joshi emphasised the extensive preparation the procedure demanded. 'Proper nutritional build-up, weight gain, assessment of gastric capacity and multidisciplinary planning are essential before undertaking such surgery,' he said. He also warned that young children frequently explore objects by placing them in their mouths, and even a momentary lapse in supervision can result in life-threatening injuries. He advised that in any case of accidental chemical ingestion, immediate medical attention should be sought rather than attempting home remedies.

Recovery and Outcome

Following the surgery, Ayaan resumed oral feeding without complications and was discharged in stable condition. Hospital authorities confirmed that the entire course of treatment, including all surgical procedures, was provided free of cost. Officials credited the outcome to coordinated efforts across paediatric surgery, anaesthesia, intensive care, and dietetics teams throughout the prolonged treatment process.

Safety Advisory for Parents

Doctors issued a broader safety advisory urging families to store household chemicals — including acids, alkalis, phenyl, toilet cleaners, and soap-making substances — securely and well out of children's reach. This case underscores a wider pattern of paediatric corrosive ingestion injuries in India, many of which result in permanent disability when treatment is delayed. Ayaan's recovery is being cited by hospital officials as a demonstration of what timely referral and coordinated surgical care can achieve.