A team of doctors at Narayana Multispeciality Hospital (NMH), Howrah, recently managed to save the life of a premature baby girl born at just 27 weeks of pregnancy, weighing a delicate 760 grams, and with a clutch of complications.

Delivered at NMH Howrah itself, the newborn was in a highly critical condition immediately after birth as she developed severe breathing difficulty, requiring mechanical ventilation. Managing such an extremely low birth-weight baby posed major challenges for the neonatal team led by Dr. Akhileshwar Narayan Chowdhury, Consultant – Paediatric Medicine, as the condition of the baby had to be closely monitored round-the-clock in the neonatal intensive care unit.

During the course of the treatment, the baby developed abdominal swelling and was retching up green vomit, warning signs of a serious internal problem. Further evaluation revealed a blockage in the intestines, a life-threatening condition in premature babies, especially those weighing less than one kilogram.

The parents were counselled in detail about the baby’s condition and the urgent need for surgery. A multidisciplinary surgical team was quickly formed at NMH Howrah, led by Dr Goutam Chakraborty, Consultant – Paediatric & Neonatal Surgery, supported by Dr. Rashmi Shahi (Senior Consultant – Anaesthesiology) and Dr Ruchi (Consultant – Anaesthesia). The surgery required exceptional precision, as operating on such a tiny and fragile newborn demanded specialised instruments and extreme care.

Despite the successful surgery, the fragile baby continued to battle issues like sepsis, breathing difficulties, low protein levels, and eye-related complications. The neonatal team remained vigilant throughout this entire critical phase. Dr. Premanjan Bhattacharjee, Consultant – Ophthalmology, intervened in time with a specialized eye injection to manage any vision-related risks.

After nearly two months of intensive care and constant monitoring at the hospital, the baby gradually improved, gained strength, and was discharged in a stable condition. A poignant example of advanced neonatal care available in Kolkata.

Dr. Akhileshwar Narayan Chowdhury said: “Babies born this early and with such low birth weight require extremely close monitoring and timely interventions. Every small improvement matters. This baby’s recovery reflects not only her fighting spirit but also the strength of coordinated neonatal care available here in Kolkata.”

Echoing similar views, Dr. Goutam Chakraborty noted: “Performing surgery on a 760-gram newborn is one of the most demanding challenges in paediatric surgery. The success of this case was possible due to careful planning, specialized equipment, and seamless teamwork across departments at our hospital.”