Liam’s Story: the newborn rescued in Martinique with Colibrì

Liam, a newborn from Guadaloupe, has been rescued by an acute bronchiolitis thanks to Colibrì, the lightest system equipped with gold standard features and unique advanced technologies for unlimited ECLS clinical applications.

The baby, which was only 7 weeks old and weighted only 5 kg, was unable to breathe autonomously because of the viral infection, which had induced secondary heart failure.

The Martinique team then went to the nearby island and the Colibrì was then connected to the newborn in jugular-carotid configuration at the University Hospital of Guadeloupe – Pôle Parent-Enfant – allowing the emergency helicopter transport in extreme situation. Everything has been realized in the best way thanks to the close collaboration between the pediatric resuscitator Dr. Xavier Beretta-Piccoli and the head of pediatric cardiac surgery of CHU Dr. Fabio Cuttone.

It is the first helicopter transport of a third-generation transportable system completely designed and adapted to infants and children.

The University Hospital of Martinique, unique in the Caribbean archipelago for expertise and previous experience, has been a pioneer and protagonist of the success of this case.

The newborn, hospitalized in Pediatric Reanimation of the CHU of Martinique, was connected to the Colibrì for 5 days, waiting for the lungs and heart to resume their normal function.

The child, considered completely cured of bronchiolitis, was subsequently discharged and then returned to Guadelupa after 15 days and is now out of danger.

Finally, we find it noteworthy that, by a remarkable coincidence, Colibrì is not just the device that enabled this baby and his family to get back to doing the things they love, but it is also a symbol of Martinique.