Ankura Hospitals Performs High-Risk Feeding Procedure on 8-Month-Old Baby
Doctors at Ankura Hospitals have successfully performed a specialised feeding procedure on an eight-month-old baby born with serious neurological conditions, enabling safe nutrition and reducing the risk of food entering the lungs.
The infant was born with meningomyelocele (a severe form of spina bifida where the spinal cord and surrounding tissues develop outside the body) and congenital hydrocephalus (excess fluid accumulation in the brain). Soon after birth, the baby underwent surgery, including placement of a ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt which is a thin tube that drains excess brain fluid into the abdomen to relieve pressure.
Over time, the child developed severe swallowing difficulty with repeated aspiration (when food or liquid enters the airway and lungs instead of the stomach), making oral feeding unsafe. Nutrition was being provided through a nasogastric tube (a feeding tube inserted through the nose into the stomach), which is typically used as a temporary solution.
After detailed evaluation and counselling, doctors recommended placement of a gastrostomy button — a small, low-profile device inserted directly into the stomach through the abdominal wall to allow safe long-term feeding. The procedure was particularly challenging because the baby weighed only 6.5 kg and the VP shunt ran close to the stomach, increasing the risk of complications.
Using an endoscopic technique (a minimally invasive method using a thin camera passed into the stomach), the medical team successfully placed a larger-size gastrostomy button in a single procedure while keeping the shunt undisturbed. The intervention was completed in about 30 minutes using minimal anaesthesia.
Feeding through the device began just four hours after the procedure, and the baby was discharged within 24 hours in stable condition.
“This was a high-risk case due to the baby’s small size and the presence of a VP shunt near the stomach,” said Dr. Parijat Ram Tripathi, Consultant Pediatric Gastroenterologist and Hepatologist, Ankura Hospital. “A carefully planned single-stage gastrostomy button placement allowed us to provide a safe, long-term feeding solution while avoiding the need for repeat procedures. Our priority was to ensure adequate nutrition and reduce the risk of aspiration.”
Typically, smaller feeding tubes are placed in infants and later replaced with a button device through another procedure. By placing a larger gastrostomy button in a single stage, the team avoided the need for future endoscopy and enabled administration of thicker, more nutritious feeds more easily.
Gastrostomy buttons are often recommended for children who cannot swallow safely due to neurological or structural conditions. They help ensure proper nutrition, support growth, and reduce the risk of lung infections caused by aspiration. This successful outcome highlights Ankura Hospitals’ expertise in managing complex paediatric conditions through minimally invasive, child-focused care.
