March 11, 2026: Doctors at Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) in Nagpur successfully saved the life of a premature baby weighing just 700 grams at birth after nearly 100 days of intensive treatment in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).
The baby was born at 26 weeks of gestation, making the infant extremely premature and at high risk of severe medical complications. After three months of specialized care and continuous monitoring, the baby was discharged in stable condition weighing 1.88 kg, hospital officials said.
According to an interview given to TOI, Dr Ashish Lothe, NICU in-charge at GMCH Nagpur said, the newborn developed severe respiratory distress syndrome soon after birth, a common but dangerous condition in extremely premature infants.
Doctors administered surfactant therapy immediately after birth to help the baby’s lungs function. The infant required ventilator support for 11 days, followed by 10 days of Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) to maintain breathing.
Dr Lothe said the early respiratory support played a crucial role in stabilizing the infant during the critical first weeks of life.
During the long hospital stay, the baby developed several serious complications commonly seen in extremely premature infants.
Doctors treated the infant for septicaemia, which required 21 days of antibiotic therapy. The newborn also developed necrotising enterocolitis (NEC), a severe intestinal condition that forced doctors to temporarily stop feeding.
The medical team later restarted nutrition through orogastric feeding once the baby’s condition stabilized.
The infant also developed retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), a potentially vision-threatening condition affecting premature babies. Doctors managed the condition using anti-VEGF therapy to prevent further damage.
In addition, doctors monitored and managed heart-related complications associated with extreme prematurity.
Septicemia is a serious bloodstream infection that occurs when bacteria or other germs enter the blood and spread throughout the body. It can trigger sepsis, a life-threatening immune response that may damage tissues and organs if not treated quickly. Early diagnosis and prompt treatment with antibiotics are critical to prevent severe complications.
Hospital authorities said the infant’s recovery was the result of coordinated work by the NICU team.
Dr Manish Tiwari, Head of the Pediatrics Department at GMCH, credited the outcome to the dedication of doctors, nurses, and support staff who monitored the baby continuously during the treatment period.
Resident doctors involved in the case included Dr Maria Sheikh, Dr Shubhangi Nima, Dr Mugdha Bhivgade, Dr Mithila, Dr Lavanya, and Dr Mahesh.
The nursing team supporting the NICU care included Aarti Atram, Surekha, Taksha, Nilima, Trupti, Jayashree, Sneha, and Preeti.
The treatment and hospital operations were carried out under the guidance of GMCH Dean Dr Raj Gajbhiye and Medical Superintendent Dr Avinash Gawande.
Medbound Times connected with Dr. Munish Kumar Raizada, MD, FAAP (Neonatologis). Dr. Munish explained about babies being vulnerable to many infections and also praised the new advancements at NICU in India. He said:
“Saving a 26-week premature baby successfully and managing the baby in a NICU in the Indian setup is indeed heart-warming. Extreme premature baby survival is very challenging, especially in a country like India, and we should be able to see more such positive stories as neonatal care continues to advance. A good NICU setup is not just about trained personnel; it also requires strong support systems such as ventilators, respiratory therapy support, and multidisciplinary care. Babies born at this stage are extremely vulnerable and can easily develop infections, which is why adequate training of nurses and strict infection control are extremely important.”
After close monitoring and gradual improvement over nearly 100 days of NICU care, the baby gained weight and reached 1.88 kilograms, allowing doctors to safely discharge the infant.
Hospital officials described the case as an example of successful neonatal care in a government medical college hospital, highlighting the role of teamwork and specialized treatment in saving extremely premature infants.
Reference:
Cleveland Clinic. “Septicemia (Blood Poisoning): Causes, Management.” Cleveland Clinic. Last modified May 17, 2021. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21539-septicemia.
(Rh/ARC)