[VIDEO IN EXTENDED ARTICLE]

The life of a 10-month-old infant was saved by doctors in the Nahariya Hospital after he aspirated grains of barley. The infant was transported to the hospital by ambulance as he was clearly having difficulty breathing after eating couscous that apparently had grains of barley in it as well. This occurred in the home of his caretaker in Maalot.

When the caretaker realized the infant began choking and was having difficulty breathing, she summoned the parents and Magen David Adom. The child arrived in respiratory distress and advanced life support continued in the trauma room upon the ambulance’s arrival.

Doctors report the child’s blood oxygen level was critically low as he struggled to get air. The decision was made almost immediately to bring the infant to an operating room where senior pediatric ENT Dr. Mayan Gruber and Chief of Pediatric Anesthesiology Dr. Tatiana Arzomov prepared to intervene. The child was in a compromised state of consciousness as a result of oxygen deprivation.

Their first move was to visualize the infant’s trachea and they spotted the grains which were obstructing his airway. B’chasdei Hashem they were able to remove the grains that were creating an almost total airway obstruction and it did not take long for the child to begin breathing on his own and his blood oxygen level returned to normal.

The child was admitted for observation. B’chasdei Hashem he appears to have made a full recovery.

The doctors remind parents the Ministry of Health warns that regarding food for infants, there is a choking hazard for barley, humus, peas, corn and other items.

The accompanying video shows the removal of the grains.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)