Rambam doctors save life of infant with ECMO machine
A baby named Adi was born – and then reborn – on the same day at Haifa’s Rambam Medical Center.
A baby in a stroller or carriage (illustrative)(photo credit: INGIMAGE)ByJUDY SIEGEL-ITZKOVICHUpdated: A baby named Adi was born – and then reborn – on the same day at Haifa’s Rambam Medical Center.When her parents, 30-year-old Na’ama and Ido Yekuti from Moshav Dovev on the Lebanese border, entered the delivery room, they expected to bring home with great joy a sister for their son. But the drama that began in the operating room after the birth continued.After a normal pregnancy, Na’ama felt labor pains about a month ago. They rushed to the hospital for the normal birth that they expected. But when the infant’s head emerged, the obstetrical staff said she was suffering from respiratory distress due to the fact that she inhaled meconium – stools from the amniotic fluid.“We waited to hear her cry and take her into our arms,” recalled Ido. “But from the team’s reactions, we understood that something was wrong, and they immediately began to treat her.”As the baby’s condition deteriorated, the doctors removed the dirty water from her lungs, but it was still hard for her to breathe. To save her life, the Rambam team – Dr. Zvi Peled, Rami Heisler and Dr. Amir Hadash – decided to try the only remaining solution, to call the hospital’s ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) team, whose members know how to run a special heart-lung machine to take over for the heart and lungs for some time.Attachment to ECMO requires very delicate surgical intervention, especially for a day-old baby; when it was finished, she was transferred to the pediatric intensive care unit. After three weeks in the ward, her condition was much better.“We are grateful,” the Yekutis said. “There is no doubt that the device and the Rambam staff saved her life. After her delivery, we thought there was no hope and were preparing for the worst.”ECMOs are used in cases, most of them extreme, when the patient’s heart or lungs need to be given time for recovery.There are several ECMOs in the country, including one at Rambam, which can be transferred from one medical center to another, as needed.See more onrambam medical center|Israeli health newsRECOMMENDED STORIESHow is Iran still launching missiles at Israel despite Israeli airstrikes?JUNE 16, 2025IDF pummels Tehran with heavy fire, 50 Israeli fighter jets take part in attacksJUNE 15, 2025A volcano ready to blow: Middle East erupts with Israeli strikes on IranJUNE 15, 2025Starlink operating in Iran, Elon Musk says, as Islamic regime shuts internet downJUNE 14, 2025Hot OpinionNow is the time for a unity government to provide clarity within the chaosByJPOST EDITORIALAs Iran vows our destruction, Israel unitesByYAIR LAPIDFive takeaways from the bomb shelter: Reflections on the Israel-Iran WarByDAVID BRINNIsrael strikes Iran: Strategic success or start of an uncertain future?BySUSAN HATTIS ROLEF