A toddler is recovering after a month-long critical battle at a hospital in Bengaluru following a road accident

Doctors said even basic bodily functions such as breathing, coughing and swallowing had become medically unsafe for the child due to the combined neurological and respiratory injuries. | Photo credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto

Doctors at a private hospital in Bengaluru recently treated a one-year-old nine-month-old baby who suffered severe brain and lung injuries after a road accident. The child also developed a multidrug-resistant infection and required nearly a month of intensive pediatric intensive care and rehabilitation.

The child, Vihaan S. Jithin, suffered multiple life-threatening injuries and required long-term ventilator support, repeated respiratory interventions and neurological rehabilitation before eventually regaining the ability to breathe, eat and walk.

He was admitted to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) at Manipal Yelahanka Hospital after receiving initial emergency treatment elsewhere.

Doctors said the child suffered severe traumatic brain injuries, including a subarachnoid hemorrhage, diffuse axonal injury and cerebellar contusions affecting areas of the brain responsible for breathing, movement and swallowing.

Lung injury

He also developed aspiration-related lung damage after food and liquids entered his airway at the time of the accident. Further complicating treatment was that the child presented with a multidrug-resistant bloodstream infection and pneumonia acquired before the transfer.

Doctors said even basic bodily functions such as breathing, coughing and swallowing became medically unsafe due to the combined neurological and respiratory injuries.

Fan support

According to Karthik Arigel, a consultant in paediatrics and pediatric intensive care at the hospital, one of the biggest challenges was determining when to continue ventilator support and when to attempt extubation.

“The brain injury removed the natural reflexes that protect the airway, including coughing and swallowing. At the same time, the lungs were severely affected by aspiration and multidrug-resistant infection. Every decision regarding ventilator support involved a balancing of risks,” said Dr. Arigela.

He explained that prolonged ventilation increased the risk of further infection and ventilator-related injury, while premature removal of respiratory support could have resulted in airway collapse or repeated aspiration.

Physicians performed several structured extubation attempts, each preceded by a neurological examination, spontaneous breathing trials, bedside ultrasound examination, and assessment of cough strength and airway secretions. When attempts at extubation were deemed unsafe, the child was re-intubated and stabilized before another attempt.

The treatment cycle included prolonged mechanical ventilation with lung protection settings, bronchoscopy to remove airway secretions and obtain cultures, targeted antimicrobial therapy against resistant organisms, and gradual transition to noninvasive respiratory support and high-flow oxygen before eventual recovery on room air.

Rehabilitation

In addition to respiratory management, the child underwent multidisciplinary rehabilitation involving specialists from pediatric neurology, neurosurgery, pulmonology, radiology, physiotherapy and clinical nutrition.

Doctors said the care plan included chest physiotherapy, tube feeding until swallowing reflexes are restored, neurorehabilitation and gradual restoration of motor function.

After nearly 30 days in the intensive care unit, Vihaan was released breathing on his own, tolerating oral feedings, sitting unsupported and walking with assistance.

Published – 23 May 2026 17:02 IST