KIMS Hospitals doctors save woman with severe influenza-induced ARDS using ECMO

Doctors at KIMS Hospitals, Secunderabad, successfully treated a 32-year-old woman doctor from Maharashtra who developed severe ARDS following influenza pneumonia. Advanced ECMO support, mechanical ventilation and multidisciplinary critical care helped her recover after 25 days of intensive treatment and rehabilitation.

HYDERABAD: Doctors at KIMS Hospitals, Secunderabad, on Monday announced successful treatment of a 32-year-old woman doctor from Solapur, Maharashtra, who developed severe Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) following Influenza pneumonia, using advanced Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) support and comprehensive critical care.

The patient was initially admitted and put on a ventilator at a hospital in Solapur. Despite intensive care, her condition deteriorated, as investigations confirmed influenza pneumonia with severe ARDS that led to respiratory failure, Dr Vishal Kumar Chitikeshi, Clinical and Interventional Pulmonology, KIMS Hospitals, said.

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The KIMS ECMO retrieval team, led by Dr Vamsi Krishna, travelled to Solapur and initiated ECMO support at the referring hospital. The patient was then safely transported overnight by road to KIMS Hospitals, Secunderabad, while remaining on ECMO support throughout the transfer.

Following her admission to KIMS Hospitals, she received intensive treatment on ECMO and mechanical ventilation for nearly a week. A multidisciplinary team of doctors from various specialities provided care. After 25 days of intensive treatment and rehabilitation, the woman doctor recovered and was discharged in stable condition, Dr Vishal said.