Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: In a rare incident on July 7, a newborn was initially declared “dead” by a govt hospital in Beed’s Ambajogai, but was found alive more than 24 hours later, just before burial.
Doctors claim ‘Lazarus syndrome’ in combination with ‘suspended animation’ can be an explanation.
The event occurred at Swami Ramanand Teerth Rural Govt Medical College and Hospital, where a 31-year-old woman from Hol village in Kaij taluka delivered a premature, low-birthweight baby boy via c-section at approximately 8:05 pm on July 7. The newborn weighed only 900 grams and was born after a pregnancy of 27 weeks.
Dr Ganesh Tondage, the head of the obstetrics and gynaecology department, said the baby had neither cried nor moved after birth. “We performed neonatal resuscitation, tactile stimulation, and bag and mask ventilation, along with administering necessary injections and other medical procedures. Despite these efforts, in the presence of two close relatives of the mother for over an hour, the baby showed no signs of life,” Tondage explained.
Subsequently, the baby was placed in a warmer overnight and handed over to relatives the next morning after being declared dead.
Dilip Rakh, the newborn’s uncle, said he took the “dead” baby with other relatives in a four-wheeler, travelling nearly 20 km. “My sister had delivered two premature babies in the past. Those babies had survived against all odds. We thought she was unlucky this time and were preparing for the last rites of the baby.
The newborn was wrapped in a white cloth when we suddenly noticed movements, followed by a loud cry,” he told TOI.
Rakh said the entire family rejoiced as they held the baby. “We rushed back to the govt hospital at Ambajogai with the baby. My sister, who was admitted there, could not hold back her tears upon seeing her third child alive and active,” Rakh said.
Dr Shankar Dhapate, the dean of Swami Ramanand Teerth Rural Govt Medical College and Hospital, described the incident as an extremely rare case of Lazarus syndrome combined with suspended animation.
“The Lazarus syndrome refers to a patient declared dead becoming alive spontaneously despite failed CPR and other measures. The suspended animation in premature babies indicates temporary suspension of vital body organs, including the heart, immediately after birth,” he said, dismissing any notion of medical negligence by the medical team.
The baby’s uncle said he has no complaints against the doctors, as family members witnessed all efforts made to revive the newborn.
Currently, the baby is in the neonatal intensive care unit (Nicu) and receiving ventilator support. “The next few weeks will be crucial for the baby. We need to address issues arising from the 27-week pregnancy and very low birthweight,” Tondage said.The hospital dean has established a five-member committee to further investigate the incident.
