Premature baby weighing 680 gms with Diaphragmatic Hernia undergoes complicated surgery at Father Mullers
Mangaluru: The Pediatric Surgery and Neonatology team at Father Muller Medical College successfully operated, managed and sent home one the smallest baby to have undergone a major operation on 14th of September 2019.
A 34-year-old female had to be delivered prematurely at 30 weeks to save the mother’s life due to complications arising from high uncontrollable pregnancy-related hypertension. The premature baby weighing 680 grams had a hole in the partition between the chest and the abdomen with the stomach liver and intestines next to the heart (Congenital Diaphragmatic hernia). The baby also had associated deformity of the heart and Endocrine organ. A team of doctors consisting of Pediatric surgeon Dr KishanShetty, Neonatologists Dr Saritha, Dr Praveen B K, Dr Mario and Anesthesiologist Dr Karl treated the baby. An extremely complicated surgery was performed where the abdominal contents were brought back and the hole in diaphragm closed successfully. This surgery is usually not attempted in babies under 1 kg as it is technically difficult due to the tiny size and almost no chance of survival. The congenital diaphragmatic hernia has a very low survival rate even in normal-weight babies born at term.
The baby recovered well post-surgery and was removed off the ventilator 3 days after surgery. The team of doctors and the nursing staff worked day in and out to improve the baby’s condition postoperatively. Baby improved, gradually gained weight and was shifted to mother’s side on day 64 of life. This seems to be the smallest baby to have ever been operated and survived at such low birth weight on searching the published literature.
The baby is now being discharged with both the Mother and Baby being Healthy. Current baby weight is 1.5 kgs after 2 months post-op.
