Three women give birth at Ismett thanks to a heart-lung machine in Palermo.

They are called Ariel, Giuseppe and Giorgia, three children at Ismett-Upmc in Palermo born in the last three weeks thanks to the collaboration with the gynecologists at Arnas Civico and the need for the use of a heart-lung machine. Three cases that occurred within a few days. The patients were already being treated for pre-existing conditions by the cardiology team – and in one case by the Pneumology team – of Ismett. Affected by hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (aortic dysfunction and heart diseases associated with pulmonary hypertension) which, for different reasons, represented a risk for both the mother and the unborn child.

Due to their health conditions, the three women would not have been able to carry out their pregnancy without the collaboration circuit established long ago between Ismett and the gynecology and neonatology departments of Arnas Civico.

The delivery – a planned cesarean section – took place at Ismett and all three patients gave birth while on standby ECMO, that is, thanks to the veno-arterial support, a heart-lung machine that oxygenates the blood, removes carbon dioxide, and acts as a cardiac pump replacing the heart. The complex procedure involved six teams of specialists: anesthesiologists, cardiologists, cardiothoracic surgeons, pneumologists from Ismett, obstetricians, and neonatologists from Arnas Civico.

“These were three very particular cases,” explains Maria Scarlata, an anesthesiologist at Ismett who personally followed the three deliveries. “They were very difficult pregnancies. The use of ECMO, the so-called heart-lung machine, allowed our patients to give birth in total safety.” Both mothers and babies are well and were transferred to the Gynecology department of Civico 24 hours after birth.

“The clinical collaboration with Ismett,” emphasizes Antonio Maiorana, head of the Gynecology department of Civico, “has allowed women with clinically very complex pathologies to achieve their dream of becoming mothers.”