Pics: Ramesh Pandith
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (EP)
Mangaluru, Jun 6: A rare feat was achieved by the medical team of Indiana Hospital, Mangaluru led by Dr Ali Kumble, Dr Sudeer, Dr Sindhu and Dr Anand, when a premature baby weighing only 700 grams went through a string of procedures including heart surgery, and got a fresh lease of life after 80 days in neonatal intensive care unit of the hospital.
Perhaps this was the first time in medical history that a baby born in the 27th week of gestation with less than 700 grams of body weight had to undergo various risky procedures including a heart surgery.
Faisal, an employee of a private company and his wife Rahmath, hailing from Kasargod, Kerala have been married for the past 4 years. Their dream to have a child, after years of waiting, ended in a tragedy when their first-born twin babies passed away within a few days of birth.
Rahmath conceived twins once again, but as luck would have it, her labour pain started in the sixth month of pregnancy where the chances of survival are low.
The lives of the mother and babies were in danger. The patient was referred to Indiana Hospital and Heart Institute. A team of doctors led by Dr Ali Kumble, chief paediatrician, Dr Sudheer, neonetologist Dr Bhavana, gynecologist Dr Anand, cardiac surgeon, and Dr Chethana, cardiac anesthetist took up the challenge. Of the twins, one baby survived and little Aysha was born through cesarean section weighing only 700 grams.
The baby, Aysha, was on ventilator for two months with total parenteral nutrition in NICU. It was a tough task for doctors to continue life support for two months on a 700 grams baby without breastfeeding, fighting all complications of heart disease, infection, heart failure
etc. Survival was not possible without a surgery on the baby's tiny heart of less than 20 grams. Dr Anand, chief cardiac surgeon performed the heart operation successfully and Dr Sudheer, neonetologist managed life support continuously for two months.
In normal situations, the survival chances in such cases is almost nil but nurses and other paramedical staff did a tremendous job in nursing the baby. There were also risks of some permanent defects like blindness, mental retardation etc. However, this baby overcame all odds and managed to get fresh lease of life.
Faisal and Rahmat, the overjoyed parents, expressed gratitude to the Almighty for the miracle and attributed the survival of the baby to the tireless efforts of the doctors and the support staff of Indiana Hospital. "Yet another milestone is achieved by the Indiana Hospital in the history of neonatal health," said Dr Yusuf A Kumble, managing director of Indiana Hospital.