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700g baby given
new lease of life

ABU DHABI - A premature baby, born after only 23 weeks of conception and with zero heart rate, was successfully revived and is in a better condition at a public hospital here.

It took about 10 minutes to revive the Emirati boy, who weighed only 700 grams at birth.

According to Dr Salam Jassim Hussein, paediatrician consultant and head of the neonatal intensive care unit at Al Noor Hospital in Airport Road, the mother who was in active labour was admitted to the emergency last month where she delivered naturally during examination.

“The mother has had lots of (medical) problems and had two previous abortions. This is their first live one and they are very happy,” Dr Hussein told Khaleej Times. After resuscitation, the newborn was placed in an incubation ventilator and transferred him to Al Rahba Hospital, which has one of the best neonatal intensive care unit in the emirate.

“He now has nasal CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) to help him breath. He still needs respiratory support,” Dr Hussein said. According to Hussein, this is the first time that Al Noor Hospital has treated this type of case. “We don’t usually accept below 32 weeks of gestational age, this happened just by coincidence,” he said.

“Everything is still incomplete, their lungs, brain, temperature control, immunity. They are still developing their organs. That’s why they need ventilator to help the baby breath. In time, the organs will also improve,” Dr Hussein explained. He noted that up to 50 per cent of those born below 25 weeks usually die. Full term is 38 weeks.

“The baby is doing better and hopefully within two–three months, he will be in full recovery,” he said.

olivia@khaleejtimes.com

• UAE