The Benue State University Teaching Hospital (BSUTH) has carried out a successful Ranula surgery on a two-year-old, Terkimbi Kaase, who had a tumour on his tongue.
Ranula is a spit-filled cyst that forms under ones tongue which can result from a blocked salivary gland, i.e. instead of saliva draining from the gland into ones mouth, it leaks into nearby tissues, forming a cyst or bubble.
The surgery involves removing the cyst or creating an opening in it to allow the trapped saliva to drain.
A Pediatric Surgeon, Prof. Francis Uba, who performed the operation, explained that the tumour was caused by a medical condition known as Ranula, usually found in both children and adults, but most common in children.
According to Uba, the condition is caused by a blockage of the pipe that drains the glands that provide saliva or can occur when the pipe that carries fluid in the body is blocked which occurs during the formative stage of a child.
According to a report shared on the tertiary hospital’s official Facebook page, the surgeon, who expressed surprise over the severity of Terkimbi Kaase’s case, said the swelling under his tongue was pushing it towards the floor of the mouth and could have resulted to blockage of his respiratory track which could have choked him to death within few days.
Uba, who described the procedure as successful, commended BSUTH and public-spirited individuals, who swung into action by drawing the necessary attention that led to the child’s receiving the needed medical attention.
He frowned at the act where some parents abandoned children that were born with abnormalities and emphasised that such children are also normal.
He also expressed his resolution to partner with BSUTH to create awareness to fight such practices.
The Professor of pediatric Surgery called on parents and maternal homes to always examine children to detect abnormalities, saying the earlier they are detected, the better the chances of handling them.
