In a remarkable life-saving effort, the Critical Care HOPE team at Apex Hospitals, Jaipur, successfully treated a 60-year-old woman from Sawai Madhopur who had ingested more than 9 grams of Celphos (aluminium phosphide), a highly toxic pesticide. The woman, whose condition was considered extremely critical, was brought back from the brink of death thanks to swift medical response, coordinated care, and advanced life-support technology.

The patient was initially stabilized at a local facility in Sawai Madhopur by Dr. Mohit Mangal, who began emergency treatment within the first crucial 10 minutes of ingestion. She was then referred to Apex Hospitals in Jaipur, where her condition was continuously monitored during the three-hour road journey via the hospital’s E-ICU system.

On arrival, Dr. Vijayant Solanki, Senior Consultant – Department of Pulmonary Medicine at Apex Hospitals, led the critical care team in managing the complex case. “Saving a patient after consuming 9 grams of Celphos is extremely rare, especially considering her age,” said Dr. Solanki. “By the time she reached us, her blood pressure had dropped significantly, heart function was compromised, and her body had entered severe metabolic acidosis.”

The team immediately placed the patient on VA ECMO (veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation), an advanced life-support technique that temporarily takes over heart and lung function. After 48 hours of intensive support and constant monitoring by a multidisciplinary team, including ECMO expert Dr. Amit Mehta, the patient showed signs of recovery. Within another 48 hours, she was weaned off ventilator support and successfully discharged in stable condition.

Dr. Solanki emphasized that survival from such poisoning in elderly patients is rare and often fatal. “This was only possible due to early intervention, seamless coordination between referring and treating physicians, and the availability of advanced critical care infrastructure at Apex Hospitals,” he added.

Apex Hospitals’ achievement in this case highlights the importance of timely emergency care, advanced technology like ECMO, and expert coordination in saving lives, even in the direst circumstances.