Kuwaiti Doctors save child’s life using advanced ‘VA ECMO’ technology
Dr. Abdul Aziz Al-Asimi and his team saved a three-year-old girl from cardiac arrest using VA ECMO technology, highlighting its life-saving potential. This breakthrough enhances critical care capabilities for advanced pediatric cardiac treatments in future.
The medical team at Chest Diseases Hospital successfully saved the life of a three-year-old Kuwaiti girl who experienced a sudden cardiac arrest. By utilizing the VA ECMO technique, they managed to restore her heartbeat and stabilize her condition. After receiving careful monitoring and treatment, she made a full recovery and was discharged in good health.
A pediatric cardiologist and intensive care specialist at Chest Diseases Hospital, Dr. Abdul Aziz Al-Asimi, stated in a press release today, Thursday, that the girl had been suffering from severe heart muscle inflammation and ventricular tachycardia, a condition that causes rapid and irregular heartbeats. This led to a sudden cardiac arrest, necessitating urgent medical intervention to save her life.
Dr. Al-Asimi highlighted the swift response of the medical team and their immediate initiation of cardiopulmonary resuscitation using the advanced VA ECMO technology, which provides critical support to the heart and lungs when the heart is unable to pump blood effectively or fails to function properly.
Furthermore, Dr. Al-Asimi explained that after successfully restoring the child’s pulse through resuscitation, an urgent cardiac catheterization was performed, and a temporary heart pump was installed to support heart function until it could recover and operate normally.
Dr. Al-Asimi stated that after continuous monitoring in the pediatric intensive care unit and the child’s positive response to treatment, doctors successfully removed the heart pump after eight days. The child was then discharged in good health, marking one of the first cases in Kuwait where VA ECMO technology was used as an initial step in cardiopulmonary resuscitation for children.
Praising the expertise of the national medical and surgical teams who played a crucial role in the success of this complex intervention, Dr. Al-Asimi emphasized that this achievement was made possible through the support provided by the Ministry of Health.
Dr. Al-Asimi also commended the commitment of the Minister of Health, Dr. Ahmed Al-Awadhi, and the Undersecretary of the Ministry, Dr. Abdulrahman Al-Mutairi, for their dedication to equipping hospitals with the latest medical technologies. He emphasized their efforts in fostering an advanced healthcare environment that ensures the highest standards of patient care and access to the most advanced treatments available internationally.
Moreover, Dr. Al-Asimi emphasized that this achievement marks a significant advancement in pediatric intensive cardiac care, strengthening Kuwaiti hospitals’ ability to manage critical heart cases in line with the highest international standards. He noted that this progress further reinforces Kuwait’s position as a leading advanced medical center in the region.
Source: Al Rai
