Fortis Anandapur Saves Life of a 13-Year-Old Girl with Acute Liver Failure due to Hepatitis A
The multidisciplinary team of doctors at Fortis Anandapur saved the life of a 13-year-old girl who was suffering from acute liver failure. The patient was presented at the hospital with jaundice, high liver enzymes, and brain swelling due to ammonia owing to acute liver failure due to Hepatitis A. The team led by Dr Sananda Mukherjee, Consultant, Paediatrics & Paediatric Surgery alongwithDr. Sumita Saha, Consultant -Neonatologist and Paediatrician,was critical in saving the patient’s life.
Sharing the details of the case Dr. Sumita Saha, Consultant Neonatologist and Paediatrician, Fortis Anandapur, said “The patient was admitted tothe Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), her ammonia level and brain swelling continued to rise, and she also experienced seizures, further complicating the risks associated with her condition. Owing to the recurrent seizures, she was gradually losing brain function which could have led to the failure of multiple vital organs including the lungs. Looking at her deteriorating condition, the patient was immediately put on ventilation. Simultaneously, specific medications including N-acetyl cysteine and lactulose were administered to counter the damaging effects of the ammonia and other toxic products in the body. To reduce swelling in the brain, fluid balance was maintained, and other guarded measures were implemented.”
Dr Sananda Mukherjee, Consultant – Paediatrics & PaediatricIntensivist, Fortis Anandapur, Kolkata elaborated on the patient’s recovery process “Liver failure following Hepatitis A infection occurs in only 4-5 percent of cases and complete recovery is possible if early interventions and suitable supportive treatments are initiated. If timely treatment is not initiated, patients are at a high risk of dying from respiratory and cardiac arrest due to brain swelling. Further progression could also lead to liver failure-induced kidney and lung damage. In this case, the patient’s clinical condition never reached such a critical level. Our PICU team’s timely interventions ensured all supportive treatments were started before irreversible damage occurred.
After 5 days of ventilation and 10 intensive days in the PICU, the patient’s condition began to show significant improvement. Her liver function began returning to baseline, ammonia levels and liver enzymes decreased, and the brain swelling receded. She showed a gradual neurological recovery over the course of her hospital stay.”
“Fortis Anandapur has demonstrated exemplary commitment to patient care under the leadership of Dr. Sananda Mukherjee and Dr. Sumita Saha. All the necessary treatments were administered timely which played a crucial role in treating the patient without the need for a surgical intervention” stated Mr. Ashish Mukherjee, Facility Director, Fortis Anandapur, Kolkata.
“As parents, we are overwhelmed with gratitude for the exceptional care our daughter received at Fortis Anandapur. The PICU team worked tirelessly to save our daughter’s life. Her recovery was achieved without the necessity for a liver transplant. She was discharged from the hospital in just 19 days, and at a follow-up visit, she showed no signs of jaundice or seizures.“ said the parents of the patient while expressing their gratitude toward the doctor and hospital.
With proper care, the patient has made a remarkable recovery. She is currently doing well and is steadily regaining her strength and vitality. This successful intervention is a testament to the expertise and dedication of the medical teams at Fortis Anandapur, Kolkata.
