Doctors Save Infant After Plastic Piece Nearly Blocks Her Airway

A 10-month-old infant was urgently taken to Almaty’s Children’s City Clinical Hospital No. 2 after showing severe symptoms. She suffered from coughing, vomiting, and difficulty breathing, prompting immediate medical action. Doctors initially suspected a foreign object was blocking the infant’s trachea. She was transported to the hospital by medical aircraft and admitted to intensive care. On arrival, she required mechanical ventilation and was placed under medically induced sedation.

A multidisciplinary team conducted a bronchoscopy and found a 1.5 × 1.0 cm piece of clear, rigid plastic with sharp edges in her airway. The object was removed successfully, preventing a potential complete airway obstruction. Medical staff had warned that the situation could have escalated to severe respiratory failure. The infant’s condition has since stabilised, though she remains under treatment for bilateral pneumonia. The quick response and coordinated efforts of the medical team prevented a tragic outcome.