SHILLONG: NEIGRIHMS has introduced ECMO (Extra Corporeal Membrane Oxygenation), an advanced life saving technology for the first time in North East. The new machine is used when every other life support measure fails to support patients whose heart and lung are severely diseased or damaged.
A 6-year-old boy suffering from Congenital heart disease with severe pulmonary hypertension underwent Open Heart Surgery on January 29 here at NEIGRIHMS and subsequently put on artificial heart-lung by-pass machine known as ECMO (Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation).He became the first patient in North East India in whom such sophisticated technology was being used for road to recovery.
A team of doctors headed by Dr. Manuj Kumar Saikia, HOD Cardiac Surgery NEIGRIHMS, Dr. Manju Darang and Dr.Reuben Kyanta resident surgeon of Cardiac Surgery, Dr. Rajani Thabah Assistant Professor Anesthesiology and Dr. Plabon Hazarika resident Anesthesiology, Dr.Himesh Barman Assistant Professor Pediatrics had put the ECMO after completion of surgery in the child. Mrinal Mandal Perfusionist of NEIGRIHMS had played a vital role in setting up the ECMO machine and its operational part for maintaining hemodynamics in the child along with the dedicated staff Nurses of CTVS O.T and ICU .
According to Dr. Manuj Kumar Saikia HOD Cardiothoracic surgery and ECMO coordinator of NEIGRIHMS, “This device is a form of advanced life support for the heart and lungs. It is used when a patient is so critically ill that no other support is adequate to maintain the life of the patient.
An external pump is connected to patient to oxygenate the whole body blood and thereafter pump it through circuit of tubing in to the body. Thereby it acts as an artificial Heart and lungs.
It is used to help patients of all ages with life-threatening diseases that impair heart and/or lung function. ECMO is often used on patients waiting for heart or lung transplant. Most patients who need ECMO are almost certain to die without this level of support.
This has been possible because of the visionary leadership of Dr. A.G.Ahanger Director NEIGRIHMS who is instrumental in acquiring this machine. His initiative has opened a new frontier in uplifting medical care in North East India to Global Level. He congratulated the entire team of doctors for this feat.
“Meanwhile the child is in cardiac surgery ICU and maintaining his hemodynamics with ECMO ,but not out of danger yet. “Use of ECMO is a complicated and highly specialized process requiring well trained team approach. Patients usually remain on ECMO in the Intensive Care Unit for many days to weeks if necessary. As the day progress we can only wait and maintain its vitals so that the damaged heart recovers. “We can only hope for the best” Dr. Saikia, added
The ECMO facility is available only in some of the foremost cardiac centers in India and now NEIGRIHMS from North East has entered in to this league of hospitals where with the help of ECMO advanced life supports are given for ARDS (Adults Respiratory Distress Syndrome), H1N1 Bird Flu, intractable pneumonias, some forms of acute cardiogenic shock, Meconium Aspiration syndrome and various other cause of heart and lung pathology in both neonates and children.
In the near future I am sure NEIGRIHMS will definitely handle all the cases requiring ECMO support from entire Eastern India with similar results as accepted globally, said Dr. Saikia.