An 11-year-old girl in New Delhi almost died of cardiac arrest, but medical professionals at a private hospital drastically saved her life. The girl had viral myocarditis, which is an inflammation of the heart muscle that is frequently brought on by viral infections. Twenty persons out of every 100,000 are estimated to be affected by this condition. The girl’s physicians informed her that she was close to heart failure and that her myocarditis was causing her to have excruciating chest discomfort.
Thankfully, she was spared death by the prompt application of an innovative technique called extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or E-CPR. When conventional resuscitation techniques are insufficient, E-CPR is a life-saving device that is utilized in cardiac arrest situations to provide vital support. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, or ECMO, is a particular kind of E-CPR, and Dr. Mridul Agarwal, a senior expert in pediatric cardiology at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, emphasized how important it was to her rehabilitation. “Without the prompt assistance of ECMO, a sort of artificial life support that can assist a person whose lungs and heart aren’t functioning correctly,” said Dr. Agarwal, “this girl probably would not have survived.”
The girl faced several difficulties on her quest for survival. She first went to two emergency rooms, where her chest pain was misinterpreted as a stomach issue, resulting in treatment that wasn’t suitable. She was transferred to Sir Ganga Ram Hospital after her condition did not get better. She was admitted right away for additional testing when an ECG there indicated a significant heart condition. Her heart was only pumping at 25% of its typical capacity, as revealed by an echocardiography, and she quickly started experiencing serious irregularities in her cardiac rhythm. Her condition worsened and her blood pressure dropped even though she was taking medication to stabilize her.
A medical team headed by Department of Pediatric Cardiac Science chairman Dr. Raja Joshi promptly started extracorporeal shock treatment (ECMO) in response to the growing threat of heart failure. Her heart and lungs were given time to rest and heal thanks to this sophisticated life support system. Dr. Joshi stated that her heart had significantly improved following seven intense days of ECMO. Her heart was operating normally when she was eventually released from the hospital after a successful weaning off of the machine.
Dr. Agarwal stressed the wider consequences of viral infections, pointing out that the Covid-19 epidemic has shown that these infections can affect the heart as well as any other organ in the body. There is a large range in the severity of viral myocarditis; some cases are minor and require no treatment at all. In order to treat severe viral myocarditis and preserve lives, this case emphasizes the vital significance of prompt diagnosis and cutting-edge medical measures.
SOURCE:
TIMES OF INDIA
