KOCHI: Lakeshore Hospital has successfully treated a critically ill H1N1 patient through a modality called ECMO. ECMO(Extra Corporeal Membrane Oxygenation) is a system in which the normal oxygen-carbon dioxide exchange that happens in the lungs are done in an external membrane. The oxygenated blood is then returned to the heart, thereby giving rest to the lungs till it recovers.
Sudhi Issac, 34, an engineer who works in Kuwait came to Kerala to get himself evaluated for a chest congestion at a tertiary hospital in Kochi. He then developed fever and cough with worsening breathlessness that was also treated outside with no relief. It was at this stage that he approached Lakeshore Hospital and got admitted on March 20 this year. A team comprising Mohan Mathew (director and head, Critical Care Department), John Alexander, Nita George and Rony Paul decided to adopt ECMO for the patient. Sudhi was initiated on ECMO on March 25 and was on it for 18 days. The patient regained complete functioning of his lungs and was discharged.“With this Lakeshore joins a select number of hospitals that provide ECMO treatment for severe H1N1,” said Dr Philip Augustine, managing director of the hospital, in a press release.