Emergency Surgery at Kauvery Hospital Saves 1.5-Year-Old Boy Hit by Stray Bullets from Country-Made Gun

• The stray bullets injured the baby’s intestine and thigh with fracture in the leg
• The child underwent life-saving gastro-intestinal surgery

Salem, June, 2025: Kauvery Hospital succesfully treated  an 18-month-old baby boy who sustained bullet injuries from stray fire from a country-made gun. The child had bullets lodged in his abdomen—one of which pierced the intestine—and in his thigh. He also suffered a leg fracture due to the impact. Thanks to timely surgical intervention, the medical team successfully removed the bullets and saved the baby’s life.

This was a rare and critical case that required immediate imaging, including emergency X-rays and CT scans, to locate the bullets. The child underwent life-saving intestinal surgery. Intensive care support and blood transfusions were also essential to his recovery.

The high-risk, emergency procedures were carried out by a multidisciplinary team comprising Dr. Mohammed Fazil A, Pediatric intensivis; Dr. Gokula Kannan, Pediatric Anesthetist; and Dr. Vijaya Baskar,Pediatric surgeon and Dr.Arun , Surgical Gastroenterologist. The successful outcome was made possible by timely diagnosis, seamless coordination across departments, and comprehensive post-operative care. After spending about 7 days in the ICU, the child was stable enough to be discharged.

In his comments, Dr. Mohammed Fazil said, “It is extremely rare to see a  1.5-year-old baby sustain bullet injuries. This was an unfortunate accident. The bullets had struck the baby’s abdomen and thigh, causing a leg fracture due to the impact. There was significant blood loss, and we immediately arranged for a transfusion. Emergency imaging — including X-rays and CT scans — revealed two bullets: one had perforated the intestine and remained lodged inside, while the other was embedded in the thigh. We proceeded with emergency surgeries involving both pediatric surgeon and Gastr intestinal surgeon. The bone fracture was treated with a supportive bandage. The case required multidisciplinary care and intensive monitoring before and after surgery. The swift coordination and timely interventions were critical in saving the child’s life. We are happy to report that the baby is now doing well.”