Lucrezia Ciotti A bimba a one-year-old girl, suffering from a serious disease that prevented her from breathing and feeding, was saved thanks to surgery at the hospital Santobono of Naples, with the collaboration of the doctors of the Policlinico of Bari.
The little girl couldn't breathe or eat.
Nel mese di ottobre, la bimba aveva cominciato a manifestare difficoltà respiratorie, inizialmente attribuite a un ingrossamento delle adenoidi.
However, the situation rapidly deteriorated, with a significant worsening of breathing difficulties, accompanied by problems in swallowing and a significant loss of weight. These signs prompted further investigations, which led to the diagnosis of retropharyngeal neoplasia.
The little girl, admitted to the Pausilipon hospital, had been treated with chemotherapy, but a subsequent check-up revealed a further enlargement of the tumor, making surgery necessary. tracheostomy e gastrostomy to save her life.
She couldn't breathe or eat, baby saved thanks to surgery at Santobono in Naples
The surgery was performed by the Uosd Plastic Surgery team, directed by Dr. Marcello Zamparelli, in collaboration with the surgeons of the Maxillofacial Surgery Department of the Policlinico of Bari, led by Professor Chiara Copelli, specialized in oncological and reconstructive surgery.
To access the tumor, it was necessary to intervene from the jaw, which was first opened and then reconstructed with plates and screws. The operation It was a perfect success, allowing for complete tumor removal without complications, preserving the functionality of the jaw and the organs involved.
"The removal of the lesion was made particularly delicate the size of the tumor (8 cm in diameter), the very young age of the child, its location and close relationships with vital structures (the internal carotid artery and the internal jugular vein: the large vessels that carry and drain blood to and from the brain) and with the nerves responsible for the functioning of the organs of the mouth. The operation, which lasted around 6 hours, took place without complications”, declared the doctor Chiara Copelli.
Recovery from surgery is proceeding without complications and the child has gradually begun to be weaned from the tracheostomy, while continuing to feed through the gastrostomy to regain weight.
The story of the little patient is an example of healthcare excellence, offering concrete hope to all children affected by complex pathologies.