For an 18-year-old college student and a passionate biker from Mizoram, the freedom to breathe easily had become a distant reality after a life-threatening illness in 2025, but doctors in Kolkata came to his rescue with timely intervention.
It all started following an episode of Herpes Zoster Encephalitis, a serious infection and inflammation of the brain caused by the varicella-zoster virus, that required 10 days of ventilation, when he developed progressive breathing difficulties that began affecting his everyday life. His family consulted several doctors across Mizoram and other parts of eastern India and was advised surgery that could potentially require prolong ICU stay. Hesitant after his previous critical illness, the family sought another option and was eventually referred to the Department of Pulmonology at Manipal Hospitals Mukundapur in Kolkata where he was treated under the care and supervision of Dr. Angshuman Mukherjee, senior consultant – Pulmonary Medicine Specialist.
The teen’s illness was previously complicated by aspiration pneumonia, and over time he developed shortness of breath and stridor, a harsh, high-pitched sound caused by narrowing of the upper airway. A CT scan of the thorax confirmed post-intubation stenosis, with evaluation revealing nearly 70 per cent narrowing of the airway across multiple layers. Given the extent of the narrowing and his previous experience with prolonged hospitalisation, the medical team opted for a minimally invasive bronchoscopic approach instead of conventional surgery.
Under the expert supervision of Dr Mukherjee, the narrowed airway was accessed through a bronchoscope. Using an electrocautery knife, the stenotic layers were precisely cut open, following which the entire narrowed segment was dilated using a balloon. The procedure resulted in minimal blood loss. A check bronchoscopy performed the following day showed that the airway remained well dilated, allowing the patient to be discharged the next day.
Speaking about the case, Dr Mukherjee said, “He was a young patient who had already gone through a very difficult medical episode, including prolonged ventilation, and his family was understandably hesitant about undergoing another major surgery. His symptoms were a result of significant post-intubation airway narrowing, which was nearly 70 per cent across different layers. Through bronchoscopy, we were able to precisely open the narrowed segments using electrocautery and subsequently dilate the airway with a balloon. The minimally invasive approach allowed us to achieve the desired result with minimal blood loss and a very short hospital stay. Most importantly, seeing him breathe comfortably without stridor and return home the very next day was extremely gratifying.”
Sharing the familys experience, the teen’s father said, “After everything he had been through in 2025, we were very scared when we were told that he might need another surgery and could spend several days in the ICU. We had consulted doctors in Mizoram and other parts of eastern India but were still unsure about taking the next step. At Manipal Hospitals Mukundapur, we finally received an explanation and treatment approach that gave us confidence. Seeing him breathe normally again, without the harsh sound and difficulty he had been experiencing, has been a huge relief for our entire family. We are extremely grateful to Dr. Mukherjee and the entire team for helping him get back to his normal life.”
The teen’s recovery was uneventful, and he was discharged the following day in stable condition. At follow-up, he reported no breathing difficulty or stridor, marking a significant improvement in his breathing and overall quality of life.
Kolkata docs help Mizoram teen breathe properly again with timely intervention
