3-year-old boy in coma, circulatory arrest due to choking on longan

(Dan Tri) - A 3-year-old child in Cam Tu commune, Thanh Hoa province suffered circulatory arrest and coma due to choking on a longan fruit.

On August 4, information from Thanh Hoa Children's Hospital said that the hospital's doctors had received and successfully treated a child who was in a coma and had circulatory arrest due to choking on a longan fruit.

Previously, at 0:00 on July 30, Thanh Hoa Children's Hospital received patient BXT (born 2022, residing in Cam Tu commune, Thanh Hoa province) in a coma and circulatory arrest.

The child is being treated at Thanh Hoa Children's Hospital (Photo: Provided by the hospital).

According to the family, the child choked on a peeled longan. After choking, the child developed a cough, had difficulty breathing, and turned purple. The family tried first aid at home by patting the child's back, but it was ineffective.

Difficulty breathing and cyanosis gradually increased. The patient was taken to the local hospital in a coma, with respiratory and circulatory arrest.

Here, the patient was given emergency treatment for cardiac arrest, respiration, and removal of a foreign object (longan seed) stuck in the throat. After 10 minutes, the patient's heartbeat returned but he was still in a coma and was transferred to Thanh Hoa Children's Hospital in critical condition.

Upon admission to the hospital, the child received timely respiratory and circulatory support. Doctors performed an emergency bronchoscopy to remove small foreign objects blocking the airway. Because the patient had severe lung damage, he continued to be on a ventilator and was monitored and cared for intensively.

Doctor Ngo Viet Hung, Head of the Department of Emergency - Intensive Care and Anti-Poison, Thanh Hoa Children's Hospital, said that after a period of emergency and intensive care, the child's condition has shown many positive developments. His consciousness has improved so the child has been taken off the ventilator, only needing respiratory support with oxygen.

Doctors recommend that parents or caregivers regularly pay attention to and monitor young children when they come into contact with toys, food, etc. to detect and handle incidents promptly when they occur.

If a choking accident occurs, the caregiver should remain calm, avoid scaring the child, and not reach into the child's throat to remove the object. Instead, first aid should be performed using the Heimlich maneuver, followed by quickly taking the child to the nearest medical facility for emergency care and safe treatment.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/suc-khoe/chau-be-3-tuoi-hon-me-ngung-tuan-hoan-do-hoc-qua-nhan-20250804110327805.htm