Medical achievement at Dallah Hospital: Saving a premature baby weighing 650 grams
In a medical achievement that reflects the development of specialized healthcare in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, a specialized medical and surgical team at Dallah Al Nakheel Children’s Hospital was able to save the life of a premature baby girl who was born in extremely critical health conditions, as her gestational age did not exceed 26 weeks, and with a very small weight of only 650 grams when the surgical intervention was performed when she was 5 days old.
Details of the delicate surgical intervention
The child arrived suffering from serious complications including intestinal obstruction and gangrene, in addition to multiple perforations in the small intestine. This emergency situation necessitated immediate intervention by the pediatric surgery team, led by consultants Dr. Abdel Moneim Gadou and Dr. Mohamed Elsayed Dabous. The team performed a delicate exploratory surgery that included the resection of a 30 cm section of the affected small intestine, along with the creation of a temporary colostomy to ensure the safety of the remaining intestine.
Medical challenges and superior care
Surgical procedures for extremely low birth weight infants (less than 1000 grams) are among the most complex medical procedures worldwide. The difficulty lies not only in the surgical precision required to handle extremely delicate tissues, but also in the challenges of anesthesia and maintaining the vital functions of an underdeveloped body. The Anesthesia Department and the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Dallah Hospital played a pivotal role in providing a safe environment for the success of this surgery, reflecting the hospital's high level of preparedness to handle complex and rare cases.
Recovery and return home phase
Following the success of the first operation, the infant underwent an intensive treatment and nutritional program, beginning with intravenous feeding and gradually transitioning to breastfeeding. This contributed to an improvement in her vital signs and normal weight gain. After her condition stabilized and she began to grow, she underwent a second operation to close the colostomy and reconnect her intestines. She was then discharged from the hospital in good and stable health.
Medical leadership of Dallah Healthcare Group
This success underscores the Kingdom's prominent position in the field of pediatric medicine and surgery regionally, and reinforces public confidence in local medical professionals. It is worth noting that Dallah Healthcare serves over 3.7 million patients annually through a wide network of hospitals and clinics, adhering to the highest standards of quality and patient safety, thus establishing itself as a trusted authority on advanced healthcare in the Kingdom.
