Professor Luciano De Carlis discusses the dire health situation of a child in Naples after prolonged use of ECMO machines, raising concerns about the viability of a potential transplant.
Professor Luciano De Carlis, the director of the transplant center at Niguarda Hospital in Milan, is grappling with the question of whether there is still hope for a young child from Naples who has been on ECMO (Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation) support for 50 days. Various medical opinions are emerging regarding the child's capacity to endure another transplant, with some experts expressing skepticism about the condition of the child's organs, particularly the kidneys, liver, and lungs, after such extensive support.
De Carlis emphasizes the detrimental effects that prolonged ECMO can have on vital organs, primarily indicating that while the heart might be relatively unaffected, the kidneys may no longer function, and the liver and lungs are likely under considerable stress. He highlights that there are established medical criteria that must be met for a transplant to be feasible and suggests that the prognosis for the child remains bleak. The combination of complicating factors makes any surgical intervention increasingly questionable.
The ongoing public discourse surrounding this case also raises eyebrows within the medical community, particularly regarding the circumstances leading to the child's deteriorating condition and the decision-making process by the medical team handling the case. Questions arise about the management of the procedure and the viability of the organ received for transplantation. As investigations continue, De Carlis and others are left to navigate the complex aftermath, balancing the hope for recovery against the harsh realities of medical limitations.
