A frantic race against time ended in relief at the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) yesterday, as a team of pediatric surgeons successfully removed a peanut lodged in the lung of a two-year-old boy. The high-stakes procedure highlights both the dangers of common household snacks and the growing specialized capacity of Kenya’s referral system.

The toddler, identified as Baby Ethan, was rushed to the facility from Kiambu after developing severe difficulty breathing. X-rays revealed the foreign object had bypassed the esophagus and lodged in the right main bronchus, partially collapsing the lung. "It was a critical situation," explained lead surgeon Dr. Sarah Wanjiku. "The child’s oxygen levels were dropping rapidly."

The Procedure

The team utilized a rigid bronchoscope, a specialized instrument designed to navigate the delicate airways of infants. The 45-minute operation required absolute precision. "One wrong move could have pushed the nut deeper or caused a hemorrhage," Dr. Wanjiku noted. The peanut was extracted in pieces, allowing the lung to re-inflate immediately.

• The Warning: KNH has issued a public advisory to parents. "Nuts, popcorn, and grapes are significant choking hazards for children under four," the hospital stated. "Their airways are simply too narrow to handle whole pieces if not chewed properly."
• The Outcome: Baby Ethan is currently in stable condition in the pediatric ward and is expected to be discharged by Friday. His parents expressed tearful gratitude to the team. "We thought we had lost him," the mother said.

Investing in Specialist Care

The successful outcome is a testament to recent investments in KNH's pediatric wing. Just five years ago, such a case might have required a far more invasive open-chest surgery. The availability of advanced endoscopic equipment is saving lives that were previously lost to "accidental" causes.