Chinese boy, 12, loses digestive system due to surgical error meant to remove tumour
For 2 years, woman has taken son to various mainland cities for treatment, specialists suggested that transplant surgeries might be needed
A young boy in eastern China, whose digestive system was nearly entirely removed due to a medical blunder, is now surviving on intravenous (IV) nutrition, attracting significant attention and sympathy from mainland social media.
The boy was admitted to Chengwu County People’s Hospital in Shandong province on October 26, 2023, at the age of 10 after experiencing severe pain when a classmate accidentally bumped into his stomach on the school playground.
During a routine examination, doctors discovered a lump in Xiaoye’s abdomen. They opted to perform laparoscopic surgery, a minimally invasive procedure, as reported by the news outlet Red Star News.
However, once the boy entered the operating room at noon, complications arose, prolonging the surgery to an excruciating 14 hours. As a result, nearly all of his digestive organs were removed.
“It was the longest waiting time of my life,” recounts Xiaoye’s mother, surnamed Yue.
“Doctors emerged repeatedly, asking us to sign various surgical consent forms. They mentioned a haemorrhage issue, suggested a laparotomy, and insisted they needed to remove certain organs. Ultimately, we signed four such consent forms.”
As a result of the surgery, Xiaoye now relies on IV nutrition to survive. He has lost considerable weight and his bilirubin levels have increased significantly.
“My boy has become withdrawn and seldom speaks now. He spends his days in hospital bed, as if merely extending his existence there,” Yue expressed.