DOHA: A 49-year-old Qatari woman patient being treated for H1N1 influenza at Hamad General Hospital (HGH) has recovered from lung infection after she was connected to a special life support device — Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO).
Due to the dedication and quick thinking of her medical team, and efficient collaboration between multiple departments at HGH, the ECMO arrived in Doha from the UK within 18 hours, saving the patient’s life.
Earlier this year, a medical team from HMC travelled to St Thomas Hospital in the UK to receive intensive training on administering the ECMO.
The training was organised in preparation for the planned implementation of the service at HMC later this year.
The ECMO treatment allows time for intrinsic recovery of the lungs and heart.
It stabilises a patient’s lung function through oxygenating blood using an artificial lung outside the body; the treatment is necessary when respirator care is no longer sufficient due to lung damage.
Through performing the function of the lungs, the patient is able to rest and the process of healing from infection begins.
After spending 12 days on the ECMO, the patient has recovered and is preparing to leave the hospital and return to her home and family. The ECMO service will officially open at HMC in December 2014.
The patient’s family expressed their sincere appreciation to the medical team. “After we had lost all hope, our sister is back with us now. This would not have happened without our trust in God and the medical team here at HMC. We thank them all, sincerely,” said the patient’s brother.
Dr Ibrahim Fawzy, Director of the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at HGH, explained that great collaboration between HMC’s Medical Administration, Human Resources and Material Management Departments, along with medical staff and administration at HGH and Heart Hospital, was fundamental to the successful outcome.
“A few hours’ difference and the patient would not have survived. The trust of the patient’s family and great collaboration between our staff and multiple departments here at HMC allowed us to save her life,” said Dr Fawzy.
Dr Ibrahim Fawzy (seated fourth from left) poses in a group photo with the ECMO team.
The Peninsula
