In a landmark medical achievement, a team of dedicated doctors at the Army Institute of Cardio-Thoracic Sciences (AICTS) in Pune has successfully performed their first-ever neonatal Extra-Corporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) procedure. This advanced intervention saved the life of a newborn boy battling an exceptionally rare and life-threatening congenital heart condition.
A Fighter from the First Breath
The infant, named Arpit, was born at the Command Hospital in Kolkata. His birth followed a high-risk pregnancy for his mother, a spouse of a serving soldier, which was marked by the trauma of multiple miscarriages. The joy of his arrival was swiftly overshadowed by a critical health crisis. Within hours of being born, Arpit developed severe cardiac failure. His tiny heart, burdened by complex congenital anomalies, was unable to pump adequate blood, threatening his survival.
Doctors diagnosed him with a critical combination of rare heart defects, making immediate and advanced medical intervention his only chance. An emergency procedure at the Command Hospital in Kolkata provided initial stabilisation, but his condition remained precarious. He urgently needed definitive corrective open-heart surgery.
A Stormy Journey to Pune for Specialised Care
Given the extreme complexity of the case, the decision was made to airlift the newborn to Pune. Arpit was transferred to AICTS, one of the premier cardiac care centres under the Armed Forces Medical Services. However, upon arrival in Pune, the baby's clinical course turned 'stormy'. He developed a serious lung infection and acute kidney dysfunction, which made it impossible to proceed with the planned surgery immediately.
A multidisciplinary team sprang into action. Paediatric intensivists, cardiac surgeons, anaesthesiologists, perfusionists, and specialised nursing staff initiated advanced neonatal intensive care. The infant was managed on high-frequency ventilatory support and peritoneal dialysis, which gradually helped his lungs and kidneys recover.
The High-Stakes ECMO Intervention
Once Arpit was stable enough, the medical team performed the crucial corrective open-heart surgery. The challenge, however, was far from over. In the post-operative period, Arpit's heart and lungs were too weak to cope with the body's demands, and he could not be taken off the ventilator. Facing this critical juncture, the doctors made the bold decision to initiate ECMO support.
ECMO is a sophisticated heart-lung support system that temporarily takes over the function of these vital organs, allowing them time to rest and recover. Deploying ECMO on a neonate weighing less than 3 kilograms is considered extraordinarily challenging, requiring meticulous precision and constant, round-the-clock monitoring by a highly skilled team.
"Deploying the ECMO procedure in adults is demanding, let alone in a newborn. Using it in a neonate requires seamless teamwork and exceptional expertise. Our team successfully achieved this," said a senior doctor from AICTS.
A Remarkable Recovery and a Landmark Achievement
The gamble on technology and expertise paid off. After nearly 90 hours on ECMO support, Arpit showed remarkable improvement. His heart and lungs recovered sufficiently, allowing doctors to gradually withdraw the life support. The baby is now breathing independently and continues to make steady progress in his recovery.
Military officials have termed this successful neonatal ECMO procedure a landmark achievement for AICTS and the Armed Forces Medical Services at large. It underscores the growing capability of military hospitals in India to deliver cutting-edge, high-risk medical care. "The baby showed he was a fighter since birth," the proud doctors remarked, summarising the spirit of this medical triumph.
