Kasaragod: An expert medical team at Aster MIMS Kasaragod has given a new lease of life to a newborn baby suffering from a critical respiratory condition, using advanced medical treatment. The infant, born to a couple from Kasaragod, was diagnosed with Meconium Aspiration Syndrome, a severe condition caused by stress during delivery, leading the baby to inhale faecal matter into the lungs. The timely intervention of the hospital’s Neonatology and Paediatrics departments successfully pulled the baby back from the brink through Inhaled Nitric Oxide (iNO) therapy.
Baby delivered at another private facility, the critically ill baby was swiftly shifted to Aster MIMS Kasaragod in an advanced NICU ambulance equipped with a transport ventilator. The condition occurs when fetal distress during labour causes the baby to pass stool inside the womb and inhale it, completely obstructing pulmonary function.
Faced with an extremely critical situation due to severe respiratory distress, the medical team led by Neonatologist Dr. Chaitra adopted advanced clinical protocols. As oxygen levels plunged due to the accumulation of waste in the lungs, the baby’s pulmonary blood vessels constricted, triggering severe pulmonary hypertension. To counter this, the team supported the infant’s lungs using a High-Frequency Oscillatory Ventilator (HFOV) instead of a standard ventilator. Subsequently, Inhaled Nitric Oxide therapy was administered where the nitric oxide gas dilated the constricted pulmonary vessels, enabling proper oxygen delivery into the bloodstream.
With continuous intensive care and state-of-the-art technology, the baby’s breathing fully normalised. The medical team comprising Dr. Uday Srinivas (Neonatology), Dr. Muhammed Nabeel and Dr. Jumana Mehjabin (Paediatrics), Dr. Aparna K (Paediatric Interventionist), Rahees Abdul Rahman (Respiratory Therapy), and Alant V. Issac (Biomedical Department) successfully managed the treatment.
Highlighting the need for advanced care during pregnancy and delivery, Sudheer Basuri, Chief Operating Officer of Aster MIMS Kasaragod, stated that delivery complications can arise unexpectedly. He stressed the vital importance of equipped Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs) and expert medical teams in hospitals to handle such emergencies. The hospital management noted that this success aligns with Aster MIMS Kasaragod’s mission to provide international-standard healthcare locally, ensuring residents do not have to travel to distant cities for critical medical care.
