Demokratic Front, Mohali – 08 February:
Two Premature Babies from Mohali, with Less than 1% Chance of Survival, Return Home Healthy
Mohali, February 8, 2025: In a remarkable display of medical excellence and advanced neonatal care, Motherhood Hospital successfully treated two extremely premature babies who had less than a 1% chance of survival at birth. These extraordinary cases highlight how the hospital handles high-risk neonatal emergencies with precision and dedication.
Both newborns, born in the outskirts of Mohali, were brought to the hospital in critical condition through the ‘NICU on Wheels’ service, where they received life-saving treatment under the leadership of Dr. Sunny Narula and Dr. Saurabh Kapoor, Consultant Neonatologists and Pediatricians.
Case 1: A Baby Girl Born at 28 Weeks (Weight: 890 grams)
This newborn suffered from severe respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) as her lungs were not fully developed. On the fourth day, she developed an intestinal perforation, which led to air leakage in the abdomen, making her condition life-threatening. She underwent emergency laparotomy surgery to repair the damaged intestines.
She required ventilator support, blood transfusions, and intravenous nutrition. She also battled chronic lung disease, jaundice, and retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) due to extreme prematurity, for which she received laser treatment. After 2.5 months of intensive care, she was discharged completely healthy, weighing 2 kg.
Case 2: A Baby Boy Born at 30 Weeks (Name Changed, Weight: 1.56 kg)
This baby experienced weak respiratory function immediately after birth and required ventilator support. On the ninth day, he developed multiple intestinal perforations, leading to a dangerous infection.
Doctors performed a complex surgery to remove the damaged intestinal parts and close the perforations. He faced pneumonia, low blood pressure, and persistent platelet deficiency, requiring 13 platelet transfusions and 5 blood transfusions. On the 44th day, he experienced feeding intolerance, but his condition stabilized with intravenous nutrition. After two months of intensive care, he was declared healthy and discharged at 1.56 kg.
Expert Opinions
Dr. Sunny Narula, Consultant Neonatologist & Pediatrician, Mohali, said:
“Both cases were extremely complex, where our NICU team, advanced technology, and dedicated care played a crucial role in saving lives. Without intensive surgeries, ventilator support, and life-saving interventions, these babies would not have survived. Their resilience, along with our team’s relentless efforts, made this possible.”
Dr. Saurabh Kapoor, Consultant Pediatrician & Neonatologist, Mohali, added:
“These cases highlight the importance of timely intervention, expert care, and continuous monitoring in neonatal medicine. Saving babies with less than a 1% chance of survival requires exceptional precision and dedication at every step. Our ‘NICU on Wheels’ service also played a life-saving role by ensuring that critically ill newborns received immediate treatment even before reaching the hospital.”
