Jeddah, The King Abdullah Medical Complex (KAMCJ), which is part of the Second Jeddah Health Cluster, successfully saved two critical cases — an Egyptian pilgrim in his 60s and a Tunisian pilgrim in his 40s — by transferring them from the holy sites hospitals via air ambulance service.
The head of the intensive-care department and a consultant in adult critical care and internal medicine at KAMCJ, Dr. Mahdi Othman, explained that the first case, a 62-year-old Egyptian pilgrim, was transported by air ambulance from Jabal al-Rahma Hospital, while the second case, a 48-year-old Tunisian pilgrim, was received from the Mina Emergency Hospital. Both pilgrims had contracted severe pneumonia during the Hajj rituals for this year 1445 AH, which had led to respiratory failure. They required an extracorporeal membrane oxygenation life-support machine and were admitted to the intensive-care unit for close observation and medical care until they stabilized and recovered.
Dr. Othman further explained that the device
functions as an external lung or artificial heart, providing organ support until the patients have completed their treatment. The device is installed by inserting a blood catheter in the central veins, typically in the neck or thigh. Blood is then transferred outside the body to the device through tubes that supply oxygen, remove carbon dioxide, and return the blood to the body.
The Intensive Care Department at KAMCJ is equipped with the latest medical devices and modern technologies, and the medical and nursing staff are highly trained in the use of the extracorporeal membrane oxygenation life-support device, as well as in installing it on the patient and closely monitoring patients in intensive care.
Source: Saudi Press Agency
