Mysore/Mysuru: A team led by Dr. Suhaim Afsar and Dr. B. Chethan, Consultant Neonatologists & Paediatricians, Motherhood Hospital, Mysuru, have successfully treated and gave a fresh lease of life to the newborn baby in the NICU, who was referred from private hospital in Vijayanagar, for further care.

Chandra (name changed) delivered a baby boy in the early hours of morning on May 21 after a normal delivery, which required resuscitation of the baby due to acute strangulation of umbilical cord around the neck of the baby.

The doctor’s team from the referring hospital at Vijayanagar, connected with Motherhood Hospital to shift the baby for Therapeutic hypothermia also known as the cooling therapy. A team of neonatologists and nurses rushed to Vijayanagar on NICU ON WHEELS and the baby was brought to Motherhood Hospital where it was treated for seven days.

In the initial three days of life, the baby received “Servo Controlled Cooling Therapy,” a one-of-a-kind treatment in Mysuru and the only available cooling unit within the city known as “CRITI COOL.” The baby’s temperature was maintained at 33.50 Degree Celsius for three days and the baby was nursed in a suitable environment under the ventilation during the whole course of 72 hours. After 72 hours, the baby gradually recovered and was discharged on the 8th day of life.

Dr. Suhaim Afsar said, “The baby was having multi-systemic issues which were a result of inflammatory cascade after acute strangulation. It was important for our team to reach the place of referral stabilise the baby and transfer for a holistic comprehensive care at our centre. This helped in reducing the risk of brain damage. Subsequently, the baby showed good improvement with regular monitoring and the care provided at NICU and was discharged successfully with a normal brain MRI which was the intention behind this fantastic therapy.”

Dr. B. Chethan said, “It was important for us to cater to this medical emergency. Our team played a vital role in retrieving the baby so that timely therapeutic hypothermia treatment could be provided to the baby. The timely ‘Cooling therapy’ provided to the baby is known to be a safe and effective treatment for babies who have experienced oxygen deprivation during birth.”