Moi Hospital performs rare life-saving surgery on 18-month-old girl
By Kenneth Mwenda, August 19, 2025Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) has successfully carried out another rare oesophageal replacement surgery, saving the life of an 18-month-old girl from Chepareria in West Pokot.
The child was born with a rare condition known as pure oesophageal atresia. This is a congenital malformation where the food pipe fails to fully develop, leaving a long gap between the two ends. In most cases, the defect is corrected through a procedure called primary anastomosis, which involves joining the two ends together. However, in this case the gap was too wide, making the usual corrective surgery impossible.
“This congenital malformation is characterised by an incomplete oesophagus with a long gap between the two ends. The usual corrective surgery, known as primary anastomosis, was not possible,” MTRH explained in a statement on X on Tuesday, August 19, 2025.
The little girl was first admitted to the hospital when she was only four days old. Doctors carried out the first stage of treatment, which involved creating an oesophagostomy and inserting a feeding tube. This allowed her to receive proper nutrition and continue to grow despite being unable to swallow normally.
“The Paediatric Surgery team undertook the initial stage of management which involved fashioning of an oesophagostomy and insertion of a feeding tube to provide nutritional support – an intervention used to sustain her growth and development until she was ready for definitive surgery,” the hospital said.
Rare life-saving surgery
A highly skilled team of surgeons performed a complex procedure called a gastric pull-up. In this surgery, the stomach is carefully mobilised and pulled up to replace the missing part of the oesophagus, creating a new and functional passage for swallowing.
MTRH confirmed that the operation was a success.
“The patient has since made a full recovery post-operatively and has been discharged home – now able to swallow food normally,” the statement added.
The hospital highlighted that this case demonstrates its ability to handle advanced paediatric surgeries that are rarely available in other public facilities across the country.
“To date, six children have successfully undergone this rare and life-changing surgery at MTRH, making it the only public hospital in Kenya where such advanced paediatric surgical care is available,” the hospital said.