In a remarkable medical case, an eight-year-old boy from rural Maharashtra has made a full recovery after doctors in Pune performed a life-saving carotid stenting procedure. The surgery was necessary to repair a punctured artery in his neck, an injury he sustained during a terrifying leopard attack in November.
A Terrifying Encounter in Ahmednagar
Rajvir Kotkar, a Class III student from Islak village in Ahmednagar district, was playing outside his family's farmhouse on the evening of November 14. Without warning, a leopard pounced, catching him by the neck and dragging him away. The attack occurred just two days after a six-year-old girl was killed by a leopard in the neighbouring Karjune Khare village.
"Fortunately, my son was nearby when the leopard started dragging Rajvir away," recalled the boy's grandfather, Eknath Kotkar (60). "It was around 6.30 pm. My son took out his bike and started chasing the leopard, honking continuously until the animal left the child and went away."
From Critical Injury to Complex Diagnosis
Though rescued, Rajvir was seriously wounded. His family first took him to a private hospital in Ahmednagar. After he was stabilised, he was referred to KEM Hospital in Pune for advanced care. There, Dr. Anand Alurkar, an interventional neurologist, discovered the true extent of the injury.
Investigations revealed that the leopard's bite had punctured the boy's main carotid artery, the crucial blood vessel supplying the brain. This injury caused a dangerous bulge in the artery wall, known as a pseudoaneurysm.
"This created a bulge in the artery where the weakened wall ballooned out, which could have ruptured and led to fatal bleeding," explained Dr. Alurkar. The condition was confirmed using a Digital Subtraction Angiography (DSA), an advanced imaging technique for brain vessels.
A Rare and Delicate Surgical Intervention
Faced with this life-threatening complication, the medical team decided on a minimally invasive carotid stenting procedure. This is typically performed on elderly stroke patients for blockages, making Rajvir's case exceptionally rare due to his tender age and the nature of his traumatic injury.
The procedure was performed three weeks after the attack. Doctors accessed the damaged artery through the groin and used a 'Covered Stent Graft' to instantly seal the puncture in the carotid artery. "The procedure relieved the boy from the bulge in the artery, which if left untreated could have ruptured and proved fatal," Dr. Alurkar stated.
Rajvir was discharged successfully and found to be stable and recuperating well during a follow-up visit on Monday, January 5.
Life After the Attack: A Local Hero
Despite the ordeal, Rajvir displays astounding courage. "I was not scared at all," the boy cheerfully claimed during his follow-up visit to Pune with his grandfather. His one concession to the trauma? "Now my grandmother does not let me out of her sight once it is evening."
Back home and in school, the incident has turned him into a local hero. His classmates often ask him about the attack. "I tell them the entire story, especially of how I did not get scared," Rajvir said mischievously. He added that his teacher often warns him, "Baher hindat nako jai (Do not venture out)."
This case highlights not only the advanced medical capabilities available in Indian cities like Pune but also the persistent human-wildlife conflict in rural areas. For Rajvir Kotkar, it's a story of survival that he will carry, quite literally, in his neck.
