For over 14 long years, Abdul (name changed), a 34-year-old Yemeni national, endured excruciating pain from a bullet lodged deep in his skull base — a grim souvenir from a stray shot during unrest in Yemen. With frequent nasal bleeding, pain behind his eye, and no advanced medical support back home, Abdul learned to live with agony — until a team of Indian doctors changed his life forever.
At Aster Whitefield Hospital in Bengaluru, neurosurgeons and ENT specialists performed a rare, high-risk endoscopic surgery to extract the bullet without leaving a single scar. The transnasal, scarless technique avoided invasive procedures and preserved Abdul’s vision — despite the bullet being dangerously close to the optic nerve and carotid artery.
From Pain to Possibility
“I had almost given up. But after the surgery, it’s like I’ve been given a new life,” Abdul shared through his friend and caregiver, who also revealed how Abdul lost years of education due to constant pain.
Recommended by friends from war-torn Sanaa, Abdul chose India over several countries for its world-class, affordable healthcare. He’s now recovering and waiting for airspace to reopen so he can return to Yemen — but with hope renewed.
Life-Changing Surgery Without a Scar
Dr. Swaroop Gopal, Group Director at Aster International Institute of Neurosciences, said,
“It was one of the most complex skull base surgeries we’ve ever done. Doing nothing was dangerous. Operating was riskier. But we did it.”
Using cranial navigation and endoscopic visualization, the team drilled carefully to reach the embedded bullet — all through the nose — minimizing trauma and ensuring a scarless recovery.
Dr. Jyotirmay Hegde, ENT lead at Aster, added,
“It’s rare for such a deeply embedded bullet to be removed without harming critical structures. The precision was key.”
Looking Ahead
Now out of pain, Abdul has decided to resume his education and pursue a career in Arabic teaching.
“The pain used to stop me from dreaming. Now I can finally focus on the future,” he said with a smile.
