Baby N.L.H., born with a weight of 640 grams, had to undergo nearly 100 days of treatment at the Neonatal Resuscitation Department (NICU) and Neonatal Department, Hung Vuong Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City before being able to return home.
According to Doctor Nguyen Minh Quan II, Hung Vuong Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, a baby born at 23 weeks of pregnancy is at the survival line, with a high risk of respiratory failure, cerebral hemorrhage, infection and body temperature disorder. When born on the night of August 21, baby H. was in a state of purple purple, weak reflexes, and had to be placed in the tracts and on a ventilator immediately. The child was transferred directly to the NICU in a state of severe respiratory failure.
At NICU, the child was pumped with Surfactant, a drug that supports the lungs of extremely young children and an invasive ventilator for 55 days, followed by 18 days of non-invasive ventilation. During treatment, the child faced the risk of sepsis many times, had to take strong antibiotics, receive a blood transfusion and support the cardiovascular system. By the 58th day, the baby's weight reached 1,180 grams, enough to stabilize to be transferred to the Neonatal Department.
According to Dr. Quan, in the post-resuscitation phase, the baby continued to be monitored for respiratory arrest, and physical therapy was performed to improve lung function. The hospital also applies Kangaroo care (dermatology), helping to stabilize heart rate, breathing rate and support baby to stay warm. Regarding nutrition, the baby starts with breast milk through sonde, then practices spooning and finally self-feeding, a sign of neurological maturity and the ability to coordinate breathing and swallowing.
After 97 days of treatment, the baby weighed 1,745 grams and was discharged from the hospital. The child's condition is currently stable and he continues to be scheduled for regular check-ups to monitor his long-term development.
According to Hung Vuong Hospital, raising a 23-week-old baby is a big challenge because it requires the coordination of many in-depth techniques on neonatal resuscitation, infection control and nutritional care. This case shows the unit's ability to approach the survival limit of extremely young children, the group of pediatric patients with high mortality and sequelae.
"The hospital will continue to improve the extremely young child care process, emphasizing early intervention in the delivery room, standardized ventilator techniques and appropriate nutritional support to improve survival rate and reduce long-term complications," Dr. Quan added.
