Vietnamese doctors save 1.2kg Korean newborn with respiratory distress

Nguyen Thanh Thien, head of the neonatal intensive care unit at Children’s Hospital No. 2, said on Wednesday that the baby boy was born at 27 weeks of gestation and transferred to the hospital with respiratory distress syndrome, commonly known as hyaline membrane disease.

The infant had previously received surfactant therapy and four days of treatment at another hospital before being referred for specialized neonatal intensive care.

Upon admission, doctors focused on optimizing respiratory support while minimizing the duration of invasive mechanical ventilation.

According to Thien, the medical team was able to wean the baby off invasive ventilation within 24 hours.

The infant then continued on non-invasive respiratory support for nine days, followed by nasal continuous positive airway pressure for an additional 16 days.

Alongside respiratory treatment, the baby was fed exclusively with breast milk.

By the 13th day after birth, the infant had achieved adequate milk intake, supporting both recovery and weight gain.

Thien emphasized the importance of early skin-to-skin contact, also known as the kangaroo mother care method, even while the baby was still on mechanical ventilation.

This approach played a key role in stabilizing the infant’s breathing, reducing the risk of infection, and allowing doctors to discontinue antibiotics early.

As a result, the duration of respiratory support was also shortened.

After 40 days of inpatient treatment, the newborn was discharged in stable condition with a weight of 1.9 kilograms.

The baby was then safely transported back to South Korea.

Respiratory distress syndrome is a common and serious condition in premature newborns, Thien explained.

It occurs because the lungs are not fully developed and lack sufficient surfactant, a substance that prevents the air sacs from collapsing.

Symptoms include rapid and shallow breathing, chest retractions, grunting, bluish skin discoloration, and, if untreated, can be life-threatening.

The successful outcome highlights the hospital’s long-standing efforts to modernize and strengthen its neonatal intensive care services.

According to the hospital, the neonatal ICU has continuously improved its professional capacity to meet both domestic and international patient needs.

Medical and nursing protocols are standardized in line with international practices, reinforcing the hospital’s reputation and its patient-centered approach.