55-year-old critically ill patient with severe viral pneumonia successfully treated at Fortis Jaipur via ECMO therapy

Jaipur, 11 December 2022:Doctors at Fortis Escorts Hospital, Jaipur successfully treated the complex case of a 55-year-old female who was suffering from bilateral severe pneumonia along with bacterial infection with the help of ECMO (Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation) therapy. The multi-disciplinary team of doctorscomprising of Dr. Praveen Kanojiya, Senior Consultant, InternalMedicine; Dr. Rakesh Chittora, Director and Unit head, CTVS along withDr. Vinita Sharma; Dr. Vaibhav Bhargava, Senior Consultant,Critical Care Medicine and Dr. Kishore Mangal, Senior Consultant, Critical Care Medicine, Dr AnkitBansal, Consultant, Pulmonology, treated the patient.

Elaborating on the case, Dr. Praveen Kanojiya, Senior Consultant, Internal Medicine at Fortis Escorts Hospital, Jaipur said, “The patient was presented with fever and 85% oxygen saturation. She was initially admitted to some other hospital for 7 days and was shifted to Fortis Jaipur, when her condition did not improve. Post admission at Fortis Jaipur, patient’s chest x-ray was conducted along with other tests which revealed she had bilateral severe pneumonia along with bacterial infection. The patient was immediately admitted to ICU and started on Non-Intensive Ventilator (NIV). However, she was not able to maintain the optimum oxygen levels even on NIV support.  She was then  electively shifted to ventilator support, where she was kept on prone ventilator cycle  (ventilation that is delivered with the patient lying in the prone position - from their back onto their abdomen) where 10-11 repeated cycles of prone ventilation were given. Initially, the patient’s condition improved, but deteriorated later. Finally, the team of doctors decided to keep the patient on ECMO.”

Dr. Vaibhav Bhargava, Senior Consultant, Critical Care Medicine, Fortis Escorts Jaipur said, “ECMO (Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) is the process where blood is pumped out of the patient’s body into a heart-lung machine that removes carbon dioxide and sends oxygen-filled blood back to tissues in the body, which gives rest and helps in the healing of the heart and lungs. The patient was kept on ECMO support for 19 days post which her condition gradually improved and she was discharged in a stable condition." 

Mr. Neerav Bansal, Zonal Director, Fortis Escorts Hospital Jaipur said, “This was a challenging case as the patient was admitted in a critical condition. Advanced technology like ECMO which needs very meticulous monitoring along with the multi-disciplinary team of doctors led by Dr. Praveen Kanojiya played a very critical role in maintaining the patient on ECMO. The excellent nursing support prevented hospital-acquired infections and bed sores, which are known complications in long-term critical patients.”

About Fortis Healthcare Limited  

“Fortis Healthcare Limited – an IHH Healthcare Berhad Company – is a leading integrated healthcare services provider in India. It is one of the largest healthcare organizations in the country with 27 healthcare facilities (including projects under development), 4100 operational beds and over 419 diagnostics centres (including JVs). Fortis is present in India, United Arab Emirates (UAE) & Sri Lanka. The Company is listed on the BSE Ltd and the National Stock Exchange (NSE) of India. It draws strength from its partnership with global major and parent company, IHH, to build upon its culture of world-class patient care and superlative clinical excellence. Fortis employs 23,000 people (including SRL) who share its vision of becoming the world’s most trusted healthcare network. Fortis offers a full spectrum of integrated healthcare services ranging from clinics to quaternary care facilities and a wide range of ancillary services.”