Revolutionary surgery used by two local physicians to treat suffering baby for only second time ever (in the whole entire world and first time ever on US soil)
On an island where the healthcare system is routinely criticized, with Guam's only public hospital often in the limelight for failing to provide basic services, it's refreshing to report that miracles do happen at the Guam Memorial Hospital. As KUAM News discovered on Thursday, thanks to some innovative local doctors, a baby girl has been given a real chance at living a long, healthy life.
Though often under fire for a host of problems, deficiencies, and even political controversy, there are people working at GMH that are pushing the envelope, striving every day to achieve medical miracles. Baby Michelle Kalgren was born on August 20 at GMH and is a beautiful, healthy little girl. But baby Michelle's initial outlook was not so bright, as hours after she was born the nursing staff noticed something was wrong with the infant.
It turned out in fact, that Michelle has a series of conditions, very severe in her case, collectively known as Pierre Robin Complex. Just four hours after delivery, William Kalgren received a call from his wife (Leesue Cao.Cruz Kalgren) telling him their new daughter was in for numerous procedures to address Michelle's condition.
Pierre Robin Complex is actually characterized by three separate features: an abnormally small lower jaw that causes the tongue, which in this condition is usually overly large, to be pulled to the back of the throat. There's also an abnormal opening in the roof of the mouth commonly known as a "cleft palate". Neonatologist Dr. Pradeep Alur said that a patient's area at the back of the mouth becomes obstructed and therefore prevents a normal blow of air, impairing breathing patterns.
Beyond it being nearly impossible for Michelle to breathe on her own, nursing her became incredibly difficult. Initially, the options for William and his wife to consider were frightening. "They were talking about making a hole in her throat...we asked the doctor is there was there anything else they could do," he told us. Wanting to avoid having to perform a tracheotomy, and after trying several alternatives, Dr. Alur, alongside local maxiofacial surgeon Dr. Darius Richardson decided to investigate further to find a non-invasive procedure to relieve Michelle's condition.
The doctors researched all known text and literature on Robin Complex, including scouring the Internet, and finally found information published about a procedure using a surgically-fitted, but removable cutting-edge appliance that addresses all conditions obstructing Michelle's breathing. Surprisingly, this is evidently only the second time this procedure has been performed...in the entire world.
According to Dr. Alur, they could only find one other study published where this procedure was performed, in Germany. Uncertain at first, Dr. Alur asked Dr. Richardson if it would even be possible here on Guam. "He said 'Well, I think we can do it here!' It was very exciting for us because we never thought on Guam we could do something like that," Alur said. The doctors were even able to make improvements to the initial German study, enhancing the appliance used in the procedure. But the appliance is temporary, and the doctors have decided they'll even be capable of performing the follow-up surgery here, which involves implanting an instrument to extend Michelle's lower jaw.
"Miracles do happen here, and we are just hoping to get that instrument, and Dr. Richardson will be able to do that particular surgery here on Guam," Dr. Alur continued. Until her final surgery can be performed, Michelle will finally be able to return home to her family on Friday. Said William grateful, "It's incredible...such a big medical thing for a small island."
The challenge for the Hospital and the Kalgren family now, is to find enough money to pay for the instrument necessary for the final surgery, which costs roughly $6,000, as it's not covered under the family's health plan. Fortunately, Dr. Richardson is already donating his services for the procedures.
In the meantime, doctors Alur and Richardson plan on publishing their revolutionary procedure in several journals of medicine.
