Infant Airlifted from Chhattisgarh Recovers After 45 Days of Intensive Care in Hyderabad
A nine-month-old infant suffering from life-threatening respiratory complications has made a full recovery after being airlifted from Chhattisgarh to Hyderabad and undergoing 45 days of intensive treatment at KIMS Cuddles, Kondapur.
Hyderabad: A nine-month-old infant suffering from life-threatening respiratory complications has made a full recovery after being airlifted from Chhattisgarh to Hyderabad and undergoing 45 days of intensive treatment at KIMS Cuddles, Kondapur.
According to Dr. Parag Dekate, Clinical Director of Paediatrics and Head of the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), the child, a resident of Raipur, was initially admitted to a local hospital with symptoms of cold and cough. Within a week, the infant’s condition worsened significantly, with falling oxygen levels despite ventilator support.
Doctors diagnosed the infant with severe adenoviral pneumonia, a serious lung infection that led to respiratory failure. As the condition became critical, a specialised PICU transport team from KIMS Cuddles travelled to Raipur, stabilised the infant on ventilator support, and coordinated an emergency airlift to Hyderabad.
Upon admission, doctors identified severe Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) along with pneumothorax. Advanced interventions, including High-Frequency Oscillatory Ventilation (HFOV) and inhaled nitric oxide therapy, were initiated but showed limited improvement.
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With the infant’s condition deteriorating further, the medical team initiated VA-ECMO (Veno-Arterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation), a life-saving procedure that temporarily takes over the function of the heart and lungs. The infant remained on ECMO support for 25 days, during which doctors managed multiple complications, including infections, bleeding, and unstable blood pressure.
Gradual improvement allowed the team to successfully wean the child off ECMO and ventilator support. After 45 days of continuous intensive care, the infant recovered fully and was discharged.
The treatment involved a multidisciplinary team of PICU specialists, cardiothoracic surgeons, and infectious disease experts.
“This case underscores the importance of timely intervention and access to advanced therapies like ECMO. Airlifting a critically ill infant and managing prolonged ECMO requires highly coordinated expertise,” said Dr. Parag Dekate.
