Kuwait's cutting-edge cardiac tech helps save young girl after heart attack
KUWAIT CITY, March 9: In a remarkable achievement that marks a significant advancement in pediatric cardiac care, the Ministry of Health announced the successful treatment of a three-year-old Kuwaiti girl who suffered a sudden cardiac arrest. The life-saving intervention was carried out by a medical team at the Chest Diseases Hospital, showcasing the country's ability to handle critical cardiac cases with the highest international standards. The girl has since recovered and was discharged from the hospital.
Dr. Abdulaziz Al-Asimi, a pediatric cardiologist and intensive care specialist at the Chest Diseases Hospital, explained in a press statement that the child had been suffering from severe heart muscle inflammation and ventricular tachycardia—a condition causing rapid and irregular heartbeats. This ultimately led to a sudden cardiac arrest, which required immediate emergency intervention to save her life.
Dr. Al-Asimi praised the swift response of the medical team, who immediately began cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) using the advanced VA ECMO technology. This technology, known for its ability to support the heart and lungs when they fail to pump blood sufficiently, played a key role in stabilizing the child.
After successfully restoring her pulse, the team performed an urgent cardiac catheterization and installed a temporary heart pump to support her heart function until it could return to normal.
Following close monitoring in the pediatric intensive care unit and positive progress in the child's recovery, the heart pump was successfully removed after eight days. The girl was discharged in good health, marking a significant milestone as one of the first cases in Kuwait to use VA ECMO technology as an initial step in pediatric cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
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