10 yr old –Victim of accidental hanging- saved in the nick of time at Rainbow Children’s Hospital, Hebbal
by Priya Jadhav
Bangalore, 26th May, 2023: A family had a traumatic experience when an innocent game turned into a nightmare. After an alleged accidental hanging incident followed by multiple seizures with altered sensorium, the victim, a 10-year-old male child was rushed to Rainbow Children’s Hospital, Hebbal.
The child was given antiseizure
medications and intubated followed by bag and tube ventilation due to prolonged
seizures and abnormal breathing. He was then shifted to PICU for intensive care
and further evaluation and management. The child reached the hospital within 3
hours of the incident, where a CT scan of the brain and neck was done to rule
out any acute injuries to the neck bones and brain. He required 36 hours of
ventilator support, antiseizure medication, and neurological monitoring. After
nearly 48 hours, he regained consciousness and responded to his parents.
Accidental hanging is potentially a
preventable cause of death and morbidity in children. Complete hanging implies
that the entire body is suspended off the ground, although children often
experience partial or incomplete hanging, which means that some parts of their
bodies are in contact with the ground. There is limited data available in India
regarding the prevalence of accidental hanging in children, but some studies
report 7-8% of deaths due to accidental hanging.
Dr. Md. Nawad Azam, Pediatric
Intensive Specialist, Rainbow Children’s Hospital, Hebbal, said: "Accidental hanging or strangulation can
lead to obstruction of the windpipe, major neck vessels, and pressure on the
carotid sinus, leading to sudden loss of consciousness. A cut-off in blood
supply to the brain for 10 to 20 seconds can lead to unresponsiveness, brain
hypoxia, and seizures.”
Dr. Prabhjot Kaur, Pediatric
Neurologist, Rainbow Children’s Hospital, Hebbal, added “Brain hypoxia can
lead to permanent brain damage and even death, which can happen in a matter of
few minutes. Even if a child survives, they may develop complications such as
permanent brain injury leading to recurrent seizures, neurological deficits,
and vegetative states. Some children can develop vision issues due to bleeding
inside the eye."
Dr. Md. Nawad Azam added, "Prevention is the
only assured method of avoiding such incidents, and parental awareness is
crucial. For small infants and toddlers, parents should ensure that loose
cords, clothing, and swinging cords are secured and out of reach. They should
also avoid placing them in areas where they can become tangled or caught on
furniture. Parents should supervise both outdoor and indoor activities. Older
children and adolescents should be educated regarding the hazards of
strangulation and choking. We suggest that all parents learn basic CPR
(cardiopulmonary resuscitation). In case of inadvertent hanging, parents should
ensure the child is breathing and immediately take the child to the nearest hospital
for further care.”
About Rainbow Children's Medicare Limited : Rainbow Children's Hospital, the leading chain of multi-specialty pediatric hospitals has been at the forefront to offer advanced pediatric care to children in need. With the advanced technology and state-of-the-infrastructure, team of experts and hospitals spread across the country offer tertiary and quaternary care including complex cardiac surgeries, neurosurgeries, pediatric liver transplants, and pediatric bone marrow transplants along with pediatric renal transplants.
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