700g Baby At 25 Weeks of Gestation Receives New Lease of Life in Pune based hospital 

Pune, 12 December 2023: The medical team at Pune based private hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) rejoices as they bid farewell to the baby born to Meghana Rao (Name changed) on the 93rd day of life. 

Born at an incredibly fragile 25 weeks of gestation with a mere 700 grams birth weight, this resilient baby emerged as a resilient fighter amid the toughest challenges under the dedicated care of our medical experts.

The baby received treatment at Sahyadri Super-speciality Hospital, Nagar Road. The journey of Meghana Rao’s baby commenced at a hospital in Ahmednagar, necessitating an emergency caesarean section due to severe complications including PV leakage, low amniotic fluid, placenta previa, and a positive E Coli infection in the mother’s vaginal swab. 

These critical factors posed substantial risks, particularly for newborn sepsis. Shortly after birth on August 22, 2023, the baby encountered severe respiratory distress, requiring immediate ventilator support.

A team of skilled doctors and nurses from the hospital orchestrated a free-of-cost ambulance retrieval, swiftly transferring the baby while on a ventilator, highlighting the hospital’s commitment to providing accessible and vital medical assistance. The successful transport of such fragile cases to a tertiary care center while on a ventilator represents a monumental achievement. Despite initial surfactant administration and attempts to extubate at 20 hours of life, a grave complication emerged in the form of pulmonary hemorrhage, necessitating re-intubation and subsequent high-frequency ventilation.

The journey was laden with challenges, including the requirement for inotropic support, multiple blood transfusions to counter massive blood loss from pulmonary hemorrhage, and management of additional complications such as acute kidney injury, patent ductus arteriosus (a persistent opening between the two major blood vessels leading from the heart), and sepsis. Enduring a prolonged period of high-frequency ventilation and noninvasive support, the baby remarkably triumphed without the conventional need for steroid or diuretic therapy, thanks to meticulous nutritional management.

Dr Pradeep Suryawanshi, Director-Neonatology & Paediatrics, at the hospital highlighted the significance of this achievement by stating, “This marks a landmark moment in Maharashtra where a baby, born at an incredibly fragile 25 weeks of gestation with a mere 700 grams birth weight, not only survived but also underwent successful transfer to a tertiary care center while on a ventilator. The remarkable progress in the survival and recuperation of extremely low birth weight babies reflects significant strides made in our country’s healthcare landscape over the past decade.”

“Nevertheless, the survival of extreme preterm babies below 26 weeks remains exceedingly rare, underscoring the imperative role of expert care and timely interventions. I extend my gratitude to the entire NICU team for their unwavering dedication and expertise, once again showcasing the pivotal impact of timely transfers in achieving positive outcomes.” he further added.

The NICU team under the guidance of Dr. Pradeep Suryawanshi, Neonatologist & Pediatrician, consisted of 8 Neonatologists, 8 Junior Doctors, 25 Nurses, and 10 caretakers. This team which includes Dr Santosh Kait, Dr Ravindra Khetre, Dr Prateek Katariya, Dr Amar Bhise, Dr Nikita Mankar, Dr Sushmita Chandran and Dr Aditi Bansal stand as a testament to their steadfast dedication to delivering exceptional care and prioritizing the well-being of their patients through this case.

On the 67th day of life, this baby successfully transitioned off ventilator support and has since thrived on full feeds, steadily gaining weight and reaching a current weight of 2.5 kg on the 92nd day of life, exhibiting normal developmental progress. The baby, discharged from the hospital on 23^rd November, holds a promising future akin to any other full-term baby.