MOTHER THANKS DOCTORS FOR ‘MIRACLE’ THAT SAVED HER LIFE DESPITE HIGH RISKS

Multidisciplinary Zulekha Hospital team hailed by 36-year old who went into septic shock and experienced multiple organ failure

Dubai, UAE, 17 May, 2017: A 36-year-old mother has thanked doctors at Zulekha Hospital Sharjah for the ‘miracle’ which saved her life after she suffered severely high risk complications during pregnancy.

Filipino national Marlyn Sampiano was admitted during the 30th week of her pregnancy with shortness of breath and a fever after suffering with a lower respiratory tract infection in the days leading up to her admission.

However, Mrs Sampiano survived after a multidisciplinary team at Zulekha Hospital Sharjah overcame the series of complications exacerbated by her history of asthma and diagnosis of the H1N1 virus.

Now at home in Sharjah after recovering her vital organ functions, Mrs Sampiano said: “I am very thankful to the doctors and the nursing team at Zulekha Hospital as they have ensured I can stand on my feet today. It is a miracle. I am able to do my routine tasks now and I’m leading a healthy life with my husband and son.”

Dr Islam Essam Eldin Elkousy, Specialist Critical Care Medicine said: “This is a rare survival and exceptional life changing experience for Mrs Sampiano as the reported mortality rate of such cases ranges from 37% up to 92% considering the complexities and number of affected organs.”

Zulekha Hospital is advising expectant mothers to have early checks, ensure they are up to date with vaccinations and confirm their specialist’s diagnosis in order to prevent unnecessary complications.

Dr Maged Abulmagd, Consultant Intensivist (Head of ICU) at Zulekha Hospital Sharjah, said Mrs Sampiano was in March treated in the ward for the first two days with oxygen therapy and antibiotics. “Due to the severity of her respiratory distress, however, she was transferred to the intensive care unit (ICU),” he added.

Initially treated with non-invasive ventilation for 24 hours, Mrs Sampiano was intubated and connected to a mechanical ventilator due to complications caused by a collapsed lung.  During her stay in the ICU she was diagnosed with H1N1 influenza pneumonia which was complicated by acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).

Dr Betty John, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, said: “Due to severely high risks to both mother and baby, Mrs Sampiano’s pregnancy was terminated after a comprehensive session of family counselling and ongoing discussions with multidisciplinary team.  The baby’s chance of survival was extremely low and we provided mechanical ventilation support as a trial to save the infant. Unfortunately, the new-born passed away later due to the multiple complexities.”

The multidisciplinary team of specialist doctors continued to attend to Mrs Sampiano, but her condition worsened and she went into septic shock after only a few days in recovery.

She experienced multiple organ failure which required invasive hemodynamic monitoring, fluid resuscitation, antimicrobials, vasopressors, protective lung ventilation, proning, appropriate sedation, and enteral nutrition alongside physiotherapy.

The expert team of doctors said that the patient responded well to treatment and was extubated after two weeks with residual myopathy, a situation where the muscular functions were hindered, which later improved with frequent physiotherapy.

The multidisciplinary team included Dr Islam Essam Eldin Elkousy – Specialist Critical Care Medicine; Dr Maged Abulmagd – Consultant Intensivist (Head of ICU); Dr Masarat Mehboob – Specialist Internal Medicine; Dr Deepak Jadhav – Consultant Nephrologist; Dr Fathahudeen Abdul Rasheed – Specialist Pulmonologist; and Dr Betty John – Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist.