Han Minchae, an Extremely Low Birth Weight Infant Weighing 550g,
Discharged at 3.9kg After Six Months of Intensive Care
Successful Collaboration of Complex Pediatric Surgery and Intensive Treatment
Round-the-Clock Nursing Shifts and Dedicated Care from Medical Staff
It has been reported that Han Minchae, an extremely low birth weight infant who weighed only 550 grams at birth, has grown healthily to 3.9 kilograms after six months of intensive care in the neonatal intensive care unit and was recently discharged. This is a miraculous outcome made possible by the dedicated care and concentrated treatment provided by the medical staff.
According to National Health Insurance Ilsan Hospital on July 22, Han Minchae was born on January 24 at 24 weeks and 3 days of gestation, weighing 550 grams. From birth, she was unable to breathe on her own due to underdeveloped lungs. She also suffered from several complications, including bronchopulmonary dysplasia, patent ductus arteriosus, small bowel obstruction, necrotizing enterocolitis, sepsis, and retinopathy of prematurity.
To treat Han Minchae's complex conditions, Ilsan Hospital established a close collaborative care system centered around the neonatology department, involving pediatric cardiology, pediatric surgery, ophthalmology, and pediatric rehabilitation medicine. Intensive treatment was provided over an extended period. In particular, when Han Minchae was unable to receive adequate nutrition or excrete properly due to small bowel obstruction in the early days after birth, Professor Jeon Hojong from the pediatric surgery department performed a small bowel resection and ileostomy when her weight reached 1.3 kilograms. Later, when her weight reached 3 kilograms, he successfully performed a bowel restoration surgery, completing two operations successfully.
Professor Jeon explained, "For a premature infant weighing only 1 kilogram, even making a diagnosis is limited, so there was a lot of deliberation before deciding on surgery. Performing surgery on such a tiny baby, whose organs are less than 1 centimeter thick, meant every step was extremely challenging." He added, "Both surgeries were completed safely, and as her weight increased, she recovered to a healthy state. This will be remembered as a very meaningful case."
The overall treatment and recovery management before and after surgery for Minchae were handled by a dedicated team of neonatal specialists. They provided stable management of her overall condition, including lung disease, infection, and nutritional status, to make surgery possible. After surgery, they led her recovery through comprehensive intensive care, including respiratory support, nutritional supply, and infection control. Professor Yoon Shinwon from the neonatology department said, "Her lungs were so immature that she required prolonged respiratory therapy, and there were life-threatening crises such as sepsis and patent ductus arteriosus. However, thanks to the baby's resilience, she was able to recover."
Miss Han Chaea, who has recovered her health, is taking a commemorative photo with her parents and the medical staff of Ilsan Hospital. Ilsan Hospital
The devoted care provided by the nurses also played a significant role in Minchae's discharge. Before birth, both mother and fetus received specialized medical care and meticulous nursing management in the high-risk maternal and neonatal intensive care unit within the integrated maternal and neonatal treatment center. After birth, Minchae was transferred to the neonatal intensive care unit, where she received round-the-clock care and treatment from nurses working in shifts.
The neonatal intensive care unit at Ilsan Hospital has a total of 20 beds, with eight neonatal professors and dedicated specialists providing specialized care 24 hours a day. In particular, the unit is equipped with isolation rooms for infection control and operates a multidisciplinary collaborative care system with pediatric surgery, ophthalmology, rehabilitation medicine, and radiology, enabling tailored treatment for high-risk newborns with complex conditions.
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