KIMS doctors saved the life of a premature baby

Baby born during the 6th month of pregnancy with a weight of 950 grams

Kurnool, October 23, 2020: Saving the life of premature babies is never an easy task. That too, when the baby is born during the 6th month of pregnancy with a weight of less than 1 kilo, it is much of a risk. But, doctors of Kurnool KIMS hospital have saved the baby and handed over to the parents safely. Mrs. Geetha from Kadapa has conceived for the second time in her 15 years of marriage.

Unfortunately, the mother had ruptured membranes ( leaking of amniotic fluid)  at 6 ½ months of pregnancy. So the baby had to be delivered by cesarian section. The baby had an extremely low birth weight of 950 gms. This premature baby was admitted to a local hospital. The baby was admitted to a local hospital and unfortunately developed complications due to prematurity in the form of blood infection and feeding intolerance. The baby was referred to KIMS Hospitals, NICU for further care. Following admission to our NICU, the baby underwent investigations that confirmed that the baby had blood infection along with severe infection of the intestines (Necrotising Enterocolitis) and perforation of the bowel. Baby thus needed emergency surgery. However baby was less than 1 kg, associated with severe infection and the surgery was very risky. The baby was operated on by our able Paediatric surgeon Dr. Sreekanth Babu. As the baby had an infection and perforation (hole) in the intestine, an ileostomy was performed ( separate opening for passing stools).

The baby was kept in the intensive care unit needing high-end life support treatment. She was kept on ventilator support for a few days and slowly weaned off the respiratory support. To treat the infection in this very small baby, we had to give high antibiotics for 3 weeks. The baby also needed 2 blood transfusions and 5 platelet transfusions as a result of complications of blood infection and prematurity. As she had surgery on her intestines and was not ready for milk feeds, the baby was given parenteral nutrition for 2 weeks via PICC line. Mother’s milk was introduced in small amounts and slowly the parenteral nutrition was withdrawn. Baby received Kangaroo mother care to aid her recovery.

Now the baby is taking mother’s milk and has recovered very well from her surgery. The recovery of this baby was possible because of the excellent team effort of our experienced doctors Dr. H. A. Naveed, Dr. G. Bharath Reddy, Dr. N. Bharathi, and our nursing staff. The prolonged stay in hospital needing expensive ICU care was offered to this baby under the YSR Aarogyasree scheme and hence has not put any financial burden on the family. The baby has not developed any major complications of prematurity. However, this baby needs regular monitoring of development as any other premature baby.