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Article: Giving Tiny Lungs A Chance to Rest; At Children's Hospital, Technology Is Saving Lives
- Article from:
- The Washington Post
- Article date:
- March 31, 1987
- Author:
CopyrightThis material is published under license from the Washington Post. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Washington Post. (Hide copyright information)
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Grace Riley went into labor on March 7 at the Baptist Medical
Center in Columbia, S.C. Although this was her third pregnancy and
she was anticipating no problems, the birth was difficult.
The umbilical cord emerged before the baby's head, cutting off
his oxygen. The baby then passed stool during the birth and inhaled
it, causing his lungs to stop functioning. An emergency cesarean
section was performed.
After the infant was on a respirator for two days, Riley was told
Samuel would die if they didn't try something else.
He was flown in to Children's Hospital National Medical Center in
the District two days later as a candidate for extra-corporeal
membrane oxygenation (ECMO), the latest ...