# 28-day-old infant saved from tracheostomy by balloon procedure 2026-08-21T13:58:32+00:00 | Health & Science | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 1 independent outlet Doctors at KIMS Cuddles, Kondapur, treated a 28-day-old infant with severe airway narrowing caused by Grade 2 subglottic stenosis using an endoscopic balloon dilatation procedure, avoiding the need for a tracheostomy. The infant was brought to the hospital in severe respiratory distress, with chest retractions and noisy breathing, and had required ventilator support for seven days after birth. During evaluation, doctors found narrowing of the airway just below the vocal cords. A specialised 6-mm balloon was used to dilate the stenotic segment three times using a controlled technique, following which the airway opened adequately and air could pass freely, said Dr Priyanka Valluri, ENT Surgeon. The procedure enabled the baby to breathe normally without a tracheostomy. ## Indian Opinion Analysis Subglottic stenosis in neonates is rare but life-threatening, often caused by prolonged intubation. Tracheostomy in infants carries high risks, including infection, tube blockage, and developmental delays. Balloon dilatation avoids these and shortens hospital stay. The procedure requires specialised paediatric anaesthesia and ENT expertise. KIMS Cuddles is among few Hyderabad hospitals offering this minimally invasive option. The next step is monitoring for restenosis, which may need repeat dilatation or surgery. ## Coverage - telanganatoday.com Straight news reporting of a medical success story with a direct quote from the doctor, no political or sensational framing. This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above. Tags: Hyderabad, KIMS Cuddles, Priyanka Valluri Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/28-day-old-infant-saved-from-tracheostomy-by-balloon-procedure/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/28-day-old-infant-saved-from-tracheostomy-by-balloon-procedure/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes. How this brief was made: an AI model read the report linked above and wrote this summary and analysis, which were published automatically. Published briefs are sampled every hour by an automated quality check; the editor verifies its findings and approves corrections, and corrected briefs carry a dated correction line. We do no original reporting. Methodology: https://indianopinion.org/ai-use-policy/