KIMS doctors save young doctor with advanced ECMO retrieval and critical care

– Transported from Solapur to Hyderabad by road on ECMO support

– Managed on ECMO and ventilator support for a week

– Discharged in good health after 25 days of multidisciplinary treatment

Hyderabad: Doctors at KIMS Hospitals successfully saved the life of a 32-year-old woman doctor from Solapur, Maharashtra, who developed severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) following Influenza pneumonia, using advanced Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) support and comprehensive critical care.

Dr. Vishal Kumar Chitikeshi, Lead Consultant, Clinical and Interventional Pulmonology, KIMS Hospitals, said the patient had initially presented with high fever and severe breathing difficulty. She was admitted to a hospital in Solapur, where she was placed on mechanical ventilation. Despite intensive treatment, her condition continued to deteriorate. Investigations confirmed Influenza pneumonia with severe ARDS, resulting in life-threatening respiratory failure.

Considering the severity of her condition, the KIMS ECMO retrieval team, led by Dr. Vamsi Krishna, travelled to Solapur and initiated ECMO support at the referring hospital. The patient was then safely transported overnight by road to KIMS Hospitals, Secunderabad, while remaining on ECMO support throughout the transfer.

Following her admission to KIMS Hospitals, she received intensive treatment on ECMO and mechanical ventilation for nearly a week. A multidisciplinary team comprising specialists in Pulmonology, Critical Care, Infectious Diseases, Respiratory Therapy, Nursing and Physiotherapy worked together to provide round-the-clock care.

After 25 days of intensive treatment and rehabilitation, the patient made a complete recovery and was discharged in stable condition.

Dr. Vishal said the successful outcome was made possible through the coordinated efforts of the Critical Care and ECMO team led by Dr. Vamsi Krishna, the Infectious Diseases team led by Dr. Prateek, respiratory therapists, nursing staff and physiotherapists.

He noted that ECMO serves as a life-saving therapy for patients with severe respiratory failure who do not respond to conventional mechanical ventilation. The successful retrieval of the patient from another State, initiation of ECMO at the referring hospital and her safe transfer to Hyderabad underscore KIMS Hospitals’ expertise in advanced critical care and ECMO retrieval services.

The patient’s family members, who are also doctors, expressed their gratitude to the treating team and the hospital management. The doctors said that timely clinical decision-making, advanced technology and seamless multidisciplinary coordination played a crucial role in saving the young doctor’s life.

For more details: Munsif daily.com