Healthcare / AIIMS Bhubaneswar Saves Critically Ill Police Officer After 36 Days on ECMO

Bhubaneswar, Jul 29: In a landmark achievement for advanced intensive care medicine, AIIMS Bhubaneswar has successfully saved the life of a 49-year-old lady police officer from Jharsuguda who battled severe respiratory failure for over a month, officials said on Wednesday.

The police officer, suffering from Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) triggered by pneumonia, was kept alive through prolonged veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV-ECMO) support for 36 days.

Initially admitted to a corporate hospital in Bhubaneswar on April 18, her condition deteriorated despite mechanical ventilation and prone positioning. With oxygen levels plummeting, she was referred to AIIMS Bhubaneswar on May 7 in a critical state. A team led by Dr. Srikant Behera, Intensive Care Medicine specialist and ECMO expert, immediately initiated VV-ECMO therapy upon her midnight arrival at the Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU).

The patient remained on ECMO support until June 12, allowing her lungs to gradually recover. She was weaned off mechanical ventilation on June 27, and her tracheostomy was decannulated two days later. By July 18, she no longer required supplemental oxygen. On July 24, she was discharged home, fully independent in her daily activities.
Also Read: AIIMS Bhubaneswar Achieves Historic Milestone, Completes 100 Robotic Surgeries

Dr. Ashutosh Biswas, Executive Director of AIIMS Bhubaneswar, hailed the case as a milestone in critical care. “This success underscores our growing capabilities in extracorporeal life support and strengthens AIIMS Bhubaneswar’s role as a leading centre in eastern India,” he said.

The case highlights the importance of ECMO in managing severe ARDS, where conventional ventilation fails. It also reflects the dedication of the multidisciplinary team that ensured comprehensive care throughout the patient’s prolonged recovery. For the officer, the intervention meant not just survival but a complete return to normal life — a testament to the power of advanced medical technology and teamwork.