Raubern 6th Gear October 29, 2022 Share October 29, 2022 (edited) SINGAPORE - His knee pain suddenly became worse and he began to experience chest pain. Mr Dante Lin’s oxygen levels were low and his heart was weak, and the 18-year-old was not responding to any treatment. Doctors at the National University Heart Centre, Singapore (NUHCS) told his mother, Mrs Amy Lin, 41, that he was on the verge of cardiovascular collapse and death. But they offered a lifeline – to put him on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (Ecmo) life support. It was the first time Mrs Lin had heard of such a treatment, and even though she did not fully understand what it was then, she agreed. That saved her son’s life. Ecmo is a life-saving machine that takes over the function of the heart and lungs. It is a highly specialised and complex form of life support and is used on the most critically ill patients when no other treatment works. It is also very resource-intensive and requires an experienced team of medical experts, including specially trained nurses, perfusionists, cardiac surgeons and intensive care unit physicians. For 62 days, Mr Lin was hooked onto the Ecmo machine. It helped to supply oxygen to and remove carbon dioxide from his blood. At times, it took over the function of his heart. After spending a total of 98 days at the Cardiothoracic Intensive Care Unit (CTICU) in NUHCS, Mr Lin was discharged on Sept 26 to tears and applause from the medical team. Doctors subsequently found out that the knee pain, which began after the family returned from Malaysia in mid-June, was triggered by bacteria – a staphylococcus aureus (also known as “golden staph”) infection. The bacteria entered Mr Lin’s bloodstream and quickly spread to his lungs. He developed septic shock at Khoo Teck Puat Hospital, where he was first admitted to. When he became unresponsive to treatment, the Ecmo team at the National University Hospital (NUH) was called in, and he was subsequently transferred there. Septic shock is a life-threatening condition when the blood pressure falls to dangerously low levels during an infection. NUH treats about 40 to 50 patients on Ecmo a year now. Mr Lin was on Ecmo for longer than most patients, as the average time is about one to two weeks. Associate Professor Graeme MacLaren, the director of the CTICU in NUHCS who oversaw the care of Mr Lin, said on Friday: “It was highly likely that Mr Lin would have died that same night had he not been stabilised with Ecmo. It is essentially a heroic form of life support, used only for the sickest patients for whom no other treatment has worked. “Ecmo’s use is increasing worldwide, in part because of the Covid-19 pandemic, but also because clinicians are becoming more skilled at using it.” Mr Lin is the first NUH patient whose septic shock was so severe that it required Ecmo. The use of Ecmo in septic shock cases is extremely rare, even in the world’s busiest Ecmo centres, Prof MacLaren added. For 98 days, Mrs Lin visited her son daily. The mother of four children took time off her work as a retail training and customer service manager to be with him. Mrs Lin left the other three children, aged 17, 11 and five, in the care of her in-laws. Mr Lin is her oldest child. “The whole medical team gave me a lot of hope, despite being very honest about my son’s condition,” she said. “There were times when my son’s condition got better and at times, it worsened.” She added: “I also had a great support system from my family and relatives, as well as my husband, who took every opportunity to visit Dante when he was off work. I am just very glad that he is here with us.” The bill came to a staggering $490,000, Mrs Lin revealed, but they did not have to fork out a single cent from their pocket. Various government subsidies, insurance and MediSave helped them pay the bill. After spending some three months intubated and in bed, Mr Lin lost about 12kg, and is currently working with a rehabilitation team comprising nutritionists and physiotherapists to regain muscle and lost strength. So far, his recovery has been good. He is able to walk normally, but is still unable to run or jump. He said: “It felt like I went to sleep and woke up the next day, only to realise that two months had passed. When my parents and doctors told me that I was in such a severe condition and almost died, I got a shock. It was so overwhelming and unbelievable.” On Friday, Prof MacLaren also launched the latest edition of a book on Ecmo, titled Extracorporeal Life Support: The ELSO Red Book, which is the definitive reference text on Ecmo. Prof MacLaren is the editor-in-chief of the book, which was jointly written by over 200 leading expert clinicians worldwide. https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/health/teenager-on-life-support-for-over-2-months-after-knee-pain-worsens Glad he pulled through and the medical bills were well-covered Edited October 29, 2022 by Raubern ↡ Advertisement 17 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ct3833 Supersonic October 29, 2022 Share October 29, 2022 Worried when seeing the title but happy for the mother and the boy upon reading it. Kudos to the doctor and team. 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ender Hypersonic October 29, 2022 Share October 29, 2022 Bacteria infection can be so serious. 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fitvip Supersonic October 29, 2022 Share October 29, 2022 An innocent knee pain could lead to such a life threatening disease. That is so scary. With advanced medical equipment, he has been granted a second life. Hope he can recover fully and lead a normal life. Kudos to the medical team. 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ER-3682 Twincharged October 29, 2022 Share October 29, 2022 (edited) 13 minutes ago, Ender said: Bacteria infection can be so serious. Malaysia Bacteria very Strong,like Dr M...Grow Old become a Pest. Edited October 29, 2022 by ER-3682 1 9 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Volvobrick Supersonic October 29, 2022 Share October 29, 2022 23 minutes ago, Ender said: Bacteria infection can be so serious. Yeah. Remember some cases people died or lost their limbs after crab bite. 4 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
inlinesix Supersonic October 29, 2022 Share October 29, 2022 1 hour ago, ER-3682 said: Malaysia Bacteria very Strong,like Dr M...Grow Old become a Pest. We are too clean to the extent of weak immunity. A lot of these bacteria could be from soil. 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ender Hypersonic October 29, 2022 Share October 29, 2022 1 hour ago, Volvobrick said: Yeah. Remember some cases people died or lost their limbs after crab bite. Ya, I remember. USually old folks or those diabetics with weak immune. Cannot afford to get cut. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ender Hypersonic October 29, 2022 Share October 29, 2022 32 minutes ago, inlinesix said: We are too clean to the extent of weak immunity. A lot of these bacteria could be from soil. I just google, apparently these bacteria are commonly found on people. Normally with immune system working, they won't wreck havoc. 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karoon Turbocharged October 29, 2022 Share October 29, 2022 if its not time, its not time. If its time, everyday bacteria would do the job. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tohto Hypersonic October 29, 2022 Share October 29, 2022 We are real lucky that we have the most advance medical equipment and highly skill team in the world. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ER-3682 Twincharged October 29, 2022 Share October 29, 2022 Luckily He got Insurance & Medi-Save,$490,000,not a small amount. 7 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mustank Hypersonic October 29, 2022 Share October 29, 2022 Better buy insurance gao gao for hospital Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mustank Hypersonic October 29, 2022 Share October 29, 2022 Zheng Hoo hospital is really number one everytine I go polyclinic I very polite with doctor and nurse and everybody 1 8 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
inlinesix Supersonic October 29, 2022 Share October 29, 2022 1 hour ago, Ender said: I just google, apparently these bacteria are commonly found on people. Normally with immune system working, they won't wreck havoc. This is where I go for Heart checkup Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tohto Hypersonic October 29, 2022 Share October 29, 2022 3 minutes ago, Mustank said: Better buy insurance gao gao for hospital Now no more 100% coverage, max is 95%. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mustank Hypersonic October 29, 2022 Share October 29, 2022 5 minutes ago, Tohto said: Now no more 100% coverage, max is 95%. Those holding on to 100% one better hold tight tight ah Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tohto Hypersonic October 29, 2022 Share October 29, 2022 (edited) 5 minutes ago, Mustank said: Those holding on to 100% one better hold tight tight ah No more 100%, I was originally 100%. Government change some regulation this year, 100% will force to become 95%. Edited October 29, 2022 by Tohto ↡ Advertisement 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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