Preterm baby at 540g survives complications, sees out 68 days at PCMC hospital

Pune: A 26-week premature baby weighing just 540gm at birth was successfully treated and discharged after 68 days in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC)'s YCM Hospital.The reported birth weight was among the lowest-ever seen at the hospital.Born without any reported maternal high-risk conditions, the infant required immediate resuscitation and ventilator support from the first minute of his life. Doctors said the newborn's lungs were severely underdeveloped, placing him at high risk of respiratory distress and infections."The baby fell in the micro-preemie category and required advanced respiratory and intensive care support from birth," said Dr Rajesh Kulkarni, NICU in-charge.The infant remained on a ventilator for seven days before being shifted to non-invasive support, including continuous positive airway pressure and high-flow nasal oxygen. During the NICU stay, the baby developed late-onset sepsis (severe bloodstream infection that occurs in newborns after the first few days of life) and necrotising enterocolitis (serious disease in newborns where parts of the intestine become inflamed and start to die). Both were managed in the unit.Doctors initiated parenteral (feeding through a vein) nutrition, later transitioning to expressed breast milk through a feeding tube. Feeds were gradually increased, while kangaroo mother care was introduced early to support weight gain.Kulkarni said such extremely premature babies are vulnerable to complications including brain bleeds and retinal damage, requiring continuous monitoring. "In this case, screenings for brain, eye and hearing functions were normal at discharge," he said.Doctors described the case as a medically challenging one, adding that survival in the extremely low birth weight category remains uncommon, particularly in public hospital settings.Head of paediatrics Dr Deepali Ambike said outcomes in such cases depend on timely intervention and specialised neonatal care.Hospital officials said the baby was discharged without oxygen support and on full feeds.The treating team included Dr Vinay Patil, Dr Manesh Kale, Dr Surbhi Joshi, Dr Pooja Jaiswal and Dr Milin More, along with NICU nursing staff.