Heema hospital set to ‘infuse’ life into premature babies

| Staff REPORTER |

ITANAGAR, Apr 30: Much to the happiness of people of State, particularly who are planning to have their babies, theHeemaMulti-SpecialityHospital, Itanagar today installed the ‘Bubble CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) Units’ with Surfactant Therapy machine solely for the premature and complicated new-born babies at its NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit).

This technology is first of its kind in the State and reportedly only few centres in North East boast of such devices.

Health Minister Atum Welly inaugurated the much needed CPAP units at the hospital premises in presence of CMD Dr B Rana and other staff members during a simple but impressive function here this morning.

While congratulating the hospital management for installation of the CPAP, Welly said that the machine would benefit the people of State, particularly women. “It’s a great thing for the hospital as well as for the people of entire state as many babies born before time can be saved with this latest technology,” he observed.

Expressing happiness over the installation of CPAP, Dr Rana informed earlier for such cases, the babies were referred to outside of State, but now with the installation of this machine many babies can be saved here in the State. He appealed the people to make use of it in order to save their babies.

Dr Y Ali, child specialist informed that the “Bubble CPAP” is a simple, safe and cost-effective method of delivering respiratory support to premature babies. The use of Bubble CPAP limits the development of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) and helps support infants without the complications associated with endotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation.

Bubble CPAP works by delivering a constant pressure to the infant’s airway (via nasal prongs) which decreases the work of breathing, improves ventilation/perfusion matching and helps “splint” open the airway, said Dr Ali.

The “Bubble” in Bubble CPAP comes from the method used to generate the pressure which is delivered to the baby.

Simply, the expiratory limb of the breathing circuit is placed under water which generates pressure and provides oscillations which may have some physiological benefit to premature lungs, he added.

Earlier, the hospital Superintendent, Dr Kesang Thongdok gave a detailed overview on the latest technology and its importance for premature babies.