Doctors save baby girl with rare disorder

PATNA: Doctors have successfully treated a rare case of propionic acidemia (an inherited disorder in which the body is unable to process certain parts of proteins and lipids - fats - properly), at the neonatology department of AIIMS-Patna. A 3-week-old baby girl with repeated episodes of vomiting, lethargy, rapidly deteriorating mental status and hyperammonemia (a metabolic disorder characterized by the raised level of ammonia) was referred to AIIMS Patna from a private hospital for further management, AIIMS-P public relation officer Dr Shreekant Bharti told TOI on Wednesday.
"High blood ammonia level can be life-threatening for a baby and may lead to brain damage. As the baby was having very high ammonia level, the neonatology team at AIIMS-Patna performed peritoneal dialysis for three days, following which the ammonia came down to normal level. This procedure was done for the first time to any newborn at the hospital," Dr Bharti said. "This was a risky procedure as it involved insertion of a catheter in the abdomen, but it was necessary and lifesaving," Dr Bharti said.
The doctors' team consisted consultant neonatologists Dr Bhawesh, Dr Rameshwar, Dr Sourabh, Dr Keshav, Dr Richie and residents Dr Pulak, Dr Sanjeev, Dr Janarthanan and Dr Shreya.