This case exemplifies SKMC’s leadership in deploying ECMO for critical post-BMT care, demonstrating a significant achievement against the typically low survival odds reported in the Extracorporeal Life Support Organisation (ELSO) registry.
Abu Dhabi-UAE.June 2024: Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (SEHA), part of PureHealth, the largest healthcare platform in the Middle East, announced a significant medical breakthrough at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City (SKMC). A 9-year-old boy suffering from refractory respiratory failure and pulmonary haemorrhage following a bone marrow transplant (BMT) was successfully treated using Extracorporeal Life Support (ECLS).
The patient, battling Beta Thalassemia, faced severe complications following a matched sibling BMT, including sepsis, blood clotting problems (coagulopathy), liver damage due to blocked blood vessels (hepatic veno-occlusive disease), acute kidney injury, and massive pulmonary hemorrhage. This led to acute severe respiratory failure, necessitating his transfer to the Paediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (PCICU) at SKMC for ECLS and further evaluation. Upon admission, the young patient required high ventilatory support, significant oxygenation, and moderate vasopressor support to manage his condition. Venovenous ECMO was emergently instituted as a lifesaving measure.
Dr Musaab Ali Al Ramsi, Consultant Paediatric Intensivist and Chair of Critical Care Department at SKMC, said, “The patient’s journey to recovery showcases the power of our collaborative approach, uniting diverse medical disciplines to elevate care standards. This case exemplifies the transformative impact of cross-disciplinary expertise, driven by a collective commitment to enhancing patient outcomes. It fuels our determination to pursue innovative solutions at SKMC that truly transform the lives of those we serve.”
Under the skilled care of SKMC’s ECMO team, the patient underwent numerous advanced procedures, including several bronchoscopies, to manage his condition. After 20 days of ECMO support and comprehensive care across various specialties, the patient showed significant signs of recovery, eventually leading to successful weaning off ECMO support. His subsequent rehabilitation and follow-up care further underscored SKMC’s commitment to patient-centric care, showcasing a remarkable recovery with no neurological consequences.
This case exemplifies SKMC’s leadership in deploying ECMO for critical post-BMT care, demonstrating a significant achievement against the typically low survival odds reported in the Extracorporeal Life Support Organisation (ELSO) registry. The patient’s journey from critical care to discharge, free from neurological consequences, signifies a milestone in paediatric healthcare, achieved through the collaborative efforts of PCICU medical and nursing teams, cardiac surgery, and other healthcare departments.
Prohealth and its subsidiaries, including SEHA, are at the forefront of healthcare innovation, continually setting new standards for patient care. They are dedicated to introducing groundbreaking advancements that not only enhance medical practices but also significantly improve patient outcomes, reinforcing PureHealth’s position as a leader in the UAE healthcare sector and demonstrating a steadfast commitment to excellence and patient well-being.
About PureHealth:
By advancing the Science of Longevity, PureHealth is introducing the healthcare of the future from the United Arab Emirates to the rest of the world. PureHealth is the largest healthcare platform in the Middle East with an ecosystem that challenges lifespans and reimagines health spans. With 100+ hospitals, 300+ clinics, multiple diagnostic centres, health insurance solutions, pharmacies, health tech, procurement, investments and more, its groundbreaking innovations are at the forefront of healthcare as the company is on a mission to unlock time for humankind.
Pure Health’s network comprises:
- SEHA (Abu Dhabi Health Services Company) – One of the largest healthcare networks of hospitals and clinics in the UAE
- Daman (The National Health Insurance Company) – The UAE’s leading health insurer
- The Medical Office – Overseeing Sheikh Khalifa Hospitals and healthcare facilities established under the initiatives of H.H. The President of the UAE
- Rafed – The UAE’s largest healthcare Group Purchasing Organisation
- PureLab – Managing and operating the largest network of laboratories in the region
- Abu Dhabi Stem Cells Center – Specialist healthcare centre focused on cell therapy and regenerative medicine
- One Health – Sales, service support, and engineering network that provides end-to-end medical solutions to a base of over 300 healthcare service providers
- The Life Corner – Abu Dhabi’s first holistic pharmacy, serving the health and wellness establishment
- Ardent Health Services – The fourth largest privately held acute care hospital operator in the US
- Circle Health Group – The largest independent operators of hospitals in the UK
About SEHA:
The Abu Dhabi Health Services Company PJSC (SEHA) is an independent, public joint stock company created to develop the curative activities of the public healthcare system in Abu Dhabi. The company owns and operates all of the public hospitals and clinics of the emirate of Abu Dhabi. SEHA is a PureHealth asset, the UAE’s largest integrated healthcare platform.
SEHA is committed to the continuous improvement of customer care to recognised international standards, and providing the community with world-class healthcare. SEHA operates 14 hospitals with over 3,000 beds, 70 ambulatory care, family care and urgent care centres, and three blood banks. Its facilities accommodate 117,162 inpatients annually, conducting 43,262 surgeries, and treat more than 5 million outpatients.
SEHA is one of the largest integrated healthcare providers in the Middle East, with more than 14,000 doctors, nurses, ancillary care, and administrative personnel. Learn more at www.seha.ae
To find out more about SEHA’s specialised clinic, or book an appointment, call 80050 or visit SEHA.ae. You can also book an appointment through the SEHA mobile app, or WhatsApp 02 410 2200.
About Sheikh Khalifa Medical City (SKMC)
Sheikh Khalifa Medical City (SKMC) is a flagship tertiary hospital in the UAE and the largest teaching medical center in Abu Dhabi.
SKMC comprises of a 441-bed acute care hospital and 16 Outpatient Specialty Clinics. Additionally, SKMC manages a Biosafety Level 3 Laboratory (BSL3) and a 125-bed Behavioral Sciences Pavilion, the largest mental care facility that provides adults and pediatric services.
The hospital has pioneered multiple innovative medical technologies locally and regionally, establishing itself as a market leader and setting new benchmarks for the sector. Major achievements include; the first Transplant Center in the UAE and the sole provider of pediatric transplant services in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, the largest Cardiac Science program for pediatrics and the only Pediatric Cardiac Surgery Program in Abu Dhabi.
Focusing on our young population we lead an exceptional healthcare for both inpatients and outpatients. As the largest pediatric Medical center in the UAE, SKMC offer unique specialties such as Pediatric Oncology and Hematology, Pediatric Nephrology, Pediatric Metabolic Disorders and Pediatric Minimally Invasive Procedures. SKMC also has the largest Pediatric Critical Care Unit and the largest Pediatric Emergency Department in UAE.
