Rare brain surgery saves infant in Chittoor hospital

Doctors at the District Government Headquarters Hospital here on Wednesday (March 18) successfully performed a rare and complex brain surgery on a premature infant, saving the child’s life.

Born to farmer-couple Sirisha and Vijay Kumar of Damalacheruvu village in Pakala mandal of Tirupati district, the baby had been suffering from severe health complications since birth. The infant exhibited symptoms such as poor feeding, abnormal head enlargement and recurrent seizures, prompting the family to seek urgent medical attention.

Doctors diagnosed the condition as hydrocephalus, caused by intracranial bleeding and fluid accumulation in the brain. The medical team first stabilised the baby by controlling seizures before proceeding with a high-risk neurosurgical intervention.

Led by neurosurgeon K. Sainath Reddy, the team implanted a special device to drain excess fluid and restore normal brain function. Despite challenges due to the baby’s low weight and fragile condition, the surgery was completed successfully.

Doctors said such a complex procedure could cost around ₹80 lakh in corporate hospitals, but was provided for free at the government facility.

The infant recovered steadily and was discharged in stable condition. Hospital Superintendent B.G. Ranganatham said the case highlighted the advanced care available in government hospitals.