Mumbai / Kolkata, 31th October 2025: Five-year-old Arya Saha (name changed), a resident of Alipurduar, has made a remarkable recovery at Manipal Hospital, Mukundapur, a unit of India’s leading healthcare network, Manipal Hospitals Group, after being treated for a massive right-sided pleural empyema (a serious infection marked by the accumulation of pus in the space between the lungs and the chest wall). The case was managed under the expert supervision of Dr. Subhasis Saha, Consultant – Paediatric Surgery, Manipal Hospital Mukundapur and Dr. Sayantan Bhowmick, Associate Consultant, Paediatric Pulmonology, Manipal Hospital Mukundapur.
Arya had been experiencing high fever and severe breathing difficulties for nearly a week before being admitted to a local hospital in North Bengal. As his condition deteriorated, he was referred to Manipal Hospital, Mukundapur, for specialized paediatric care. At admission, Arya was in severe respiratory distress, as the infected fluid was compressing his right lung and making breathing extremely difficult. After rapid stabilisation, the team at the hospital, decided on early Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery (VATS), a minimally invasive procedure to drain the infection and allow the lung to expand.
Following the operation, Arya required mechanical ventilation (a breathing machine) for about ten days because the right lung initially failed to fully re-expand, and a pneumothorax (air leak in the lung) developed. Under the vigilant supervision of the Paediatric Intensive Care team, led by Dr Saumen Meur, Senior Consultant, Paediatric Intensive Care along with Dr Monideepa Dutta, Consultant Paediatric Intensive Care precise ventilatory strategies, infection control, and lung-protective physiotherapy were implemented. Gradually, the lung expanded, the air leak resolved, and Arya was successfully taken off the ventilator and discharged in excellent health.
While discussing the case, Dr. Subhasis Saha, Consultant – Paediatric Surgeon, Manipal Hospital, Mukundapur, said, “Empyema in children can progress rapidly and, if not treated in time, can become life-threatening. In Arya’s case, early surgical intervention through minimally invasive Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery (VATS) was vital to remove the infection and help his lung expand again. Paediatric surgery is not just about precision it’s also about understanding the fear and anxiety that families go through when their child is unwell. Our team worked closely with the parents at every step to ensure they felt supported and informed. Seeing the child recover, smile, and go back to his normal, playful self after such a critical illness is the most fulfilling outcome we could hope for.”
Dr Sayantan Bhowmick, Associate Consultant, Paediatric Pulmonology, Manipal Hospital Mukundapur, who guided Arya’s respiratory care, said, “When a child comes in with such a serious lung infection, every minute counts. Arya’s lungs were filled with pus, which made it very hard for him to breathe. Our first step was to remove the pus through a minimally invasive surgery called VATS, so the lung could start working again. While he was on the breathing machine, we carefully monitored his oxygen levels and used medicines to fight infection and reduce inflammation. We aimed to minimise airway pressures, optimise drainage and antibiotic therapy, and support the lung’s natural healing process with structured physiotherapy. This case is a strong reminder that teamwork, timely surgery, and round-the-clock care can make all the difference in saving a child’s life.”
Arya’s mother, said, “Watching my little boy gasping for breath and burning with high fever for seven relentless days was nothing short of a nightmare. After trying treatment locally and seeing no improvement, we had to travel all the way to Manipal Hospital, Mukundapur, hoping for specialized care. From the moment we arrived, the doctors and nurses were compassionate, calm, and extremely thorough, explaining every step and ensuring Arya was comfortable. Thanks to their exceptional care and dedication, Arya is now back home, healthy, and full of energy. We will always be deeply grateful to the entire team for giving our son a second chance at life.”
This success story highlights Manipal Hospital Mukundapur’s expertise in comprehensive paediatric respiratory and critical care, where close collaboration between pulmonology, intensive care, and paediatric surgery ensures that even severe and complicated cases can have the best possible outcomes for children.
