In a significant development for Tripura’s healthcare sector, doctors at Agartala Government Medical College and GB Pant Hospital have performed the state’s first-ever Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) procedure on a critically ill patient suffering from severe paraquat poisoning.

According to the Tripura Health Department, the advanced life-support treatment was initiated on August 24 for a 25-year-old woman who had reportedly ingested paraquat, a highly toxic herbicide that can cause severe and often fatal damage to the lungs, kidneys and other vital organs.

The patient’s condition deteriorated rapidly, with her blood oxygen saturation reportedly dropping to around 30–40 percent. Despite being placed on a ventilator, her respiratory condition continued to worsen. She was subsequently shifted from the Medicine Ward to the Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery (CTVS) Department for advanced intervention.

As conventional respiratory support proved inadequate, the medical team initiated ECMO on Monday night. The technology temporarily performs the essential functions of the lungs by oxygenating the blood and removing carbon dioxide, giving the damaged lungs an opportunity to rest and potentially recover.

Following the procedure, the CTVS team maintained continuous monitoring of the patient throughout the night. Doctors said ECMO could provide critical additional time for intensive treatment. However, the patient’s kidneys have also been severely affected and are currently non-functional. The hospital is making arrangements for dialysis in coordination with the Principal and the Nephrology Department.

Doctors cautioned that paraquat poisoning is associated with an extremely high mortality rate. Nevertheless, ECMO has offered a crucial window for continued treatment and the possibility of recovery. The patient’s response over the coming days will determine the outcome.

The ECMO procedure was conducted under the leadership of Dr Kanak Narayan Bhattacharya, surgeon in the CTVS Department. The team included Dr Rimjhim Chakma, perfusionists Sujan Sahu and Sourav Tripura, along with cardiac OT technologists Ratan Mondal, Sudipta Mondal, Minhaj Uddin, Abhijit Das, Arpita Sarkar, Mousumi Debnath, Sourav Sheel, Anna Bahadur Jamatia, Tanmoy Ghosh, Sagar Debnath and Ankita Chakraborty, among others.

Another notable aspect of the treatment is that the entire ECMO procedure is being provided free of cost at GBP Hospital. Similar treatment at private hospitals can cost Rs 20 lakh or more, highlighting the importance of the initiative for patients dependent on the state’s public healthcare system.

The landmark procedure marks a major advancement in critical-care facilities at GBP Hospital and represents a significant step forward for advanced emergency treatment in Tripura.