ECMO saves life of a one-day-old baby

Baby was put on ECMO immediately and the condition was stabilized. It was initiated by small operative procedure by a pediatric cardiac surgeon. Baby needed ECMO support for 5 days and intensive care stay for another 5 days. Baby was finally discharged home in healthy condition and on mother's breast feeds.

In such a situation ECMO helps by taking over lung function (taking up oxygen and removal of carbon dioxide) and giving rest and time for the lungs to recover. It does this by diverting the blood, which is going to lungs through the artificial lung (oxygenator) located outside the body in the ECMO circuit. ECMO is usually offered in conditions of either heart or lung function is critically compromised and not able to support with conventionally available treatment modes. It is done in all age groups and has become more popular with H1N1 and Covid-19.

ECMO is widely accepted and available in western countries for the last 40 years and has become available in India since 10 years. Still it is not utilized to the extent needed. One of the important factors is lack of awareness within the healthcare community. Because of our persistent efforts to increase the awareness within twin cities this baby was sent to us at the right time.

This is the 2nd ECMO in newborn babies we did and KIMS Hospitals is the only hospital that has done ECMO in newborn babies in twin telugu states. KIMS Hospitals is the first hospital to start ECMO services in 2012 and have done the highest so far in telugu states.