Dr Kuldeep Sukhdeve of KIMS-Kingsway Hospitals said the child had a pre-existing complex congenital issue, coupled with multiple anomalies in her heart.
Published Sep 01, 2023 | 7:10 AM ⚊ Updated Sep 01, 2023 | 3:06 PM
The 15-month-old toddler was first revived mid-air by five AIIMS doctors on board Vistara airlines before passing away 3 days later. (Supplied)
The emotional rollercoaster of hope and urgency following the daring mid-flight resuscitation of a 15-month-old toddler by five AIIMS doctors on a Bengaluru-Delhi Vistara flight ended in heartbreak on Thursday, 31 August.
The toddler, whose fight for life captured headlines and hearts, left the world at 3.15 am. The tragic news was confirmed by KIMS-Kingsway Hospitals, Nagpur, where the toddler had been undergoing treatment.
The five medical warriors from AIIMS, with their unwavering dedication, became overnight heroes when news broke of their valiant efforts to resuscitate the toddler mid-flight. High above the clouds, these doctors defied all odds, demonstrating the remarkable heights of human compassion and expertise.
A sombre statement from the hospital unveiled the complexities that marked the little girl’s journey.
“In post-resuscitation status, she suffered from several complications including renal failure and cardiac failure shock,” the statement said, painting a stark picture of the challenges she faced in the aftermath of resuscitation.
Speaking to the press, Dr Kuldeep Sukhdeve, Senior Consultant in Paediatrics and Neonatology at KIMS-Kingsway Hospitals, Nagpur, said that she bore the weight of a pre-existing complex congenital issue, coupled with multiple anomalies in her heart. Her fight, though brief, embodied an astounding display of resilience and courage.
Her battle began last Sunday aboard a Vistara flight from Bengaluru to Delhi. A sudden cardiac arrest left her unconscious, prompting a call for help that would echo across the airplane.
The child’s mother was desperately looking for help as her child had suddenly turned cold and was not breathing. She immediately requested the crew of the aircraft for an emergency landing and the aircraft was diverted to Nagpur.
The five doctors from AIIMS Delhi who were on board the Vistara flight. (Supplied)
When a distress call came through in the cabin of the Vistara Airline flight UK-814, Senior Resident (Anaesthesia) Dr Navdeep Kaur, Senior Resident (Cardiac Radiology) Dr Damandeep Singh, former senior resident (AIIMS Radiology) Dr Rishab Jain, Senior Resident (OBG) Dr Oishika, and Senior Resident (Cardiac Radiology) Dr Avichala Taxak found themselves jumping into action.
As fellow passengers watched in awe, these individuals — their backgrounds as diverse as their skills were complementary — transformed from mere travellers into a formidable medical team.
The doctors, who were returning from an event organised by the Indian Society for Vascular and Interventional Radiology (ISVIR) in Bengaluru, had managed to resuscitate the child and handed her over to hospital staff at Nagpur.
“After about 30 minutes of resuscitation, we made a call that the child was already a high-risk post-operative case of a congenital heart disease, who was operated on 25 days ago. So, we decided we needed an emergency landing,” Dr Navdeep Kaur told South First in an earlier interaction.
The tubing from the emergency oxygen mask was used to connect the oxygen cylinder to the Ambu bag. (Creative Commons)
With whatever they had access to on the flight, the doctors used tubing from the emergency oxygen masks to connect the oxygen cylinder to the Ambu bag, they used the drug adrenaline which was available on the aircraft, and they used an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) to restart the heart.
“This child needed an escalated support. She needed intubation. So, we coordinated with the captain on board and they helped us and landed in Nagpur within 15 minutes, with an ambulance waiting for us,” she explained.
For three days, the child clung on for dear life, supported by the unwavering dedication of medical professionals and the prayers of those who followed her story.
The hospital is now working to facilitate the transfer of the toddler’s remains to her home country of Bangladesh.
