On 3/7, Dr. Giang Minh Nhat, Deputy Head of the Cardiovascular Resuscitation Department at Gia Dinh People's Hospital, reported the case of a 22-year-old female patient with a BMI of 37 kg/m², classified as class 3 obese. The patient was admitted with a persistent high fever accompanied by abdominal and hip pain. The infection progressed rapidly and uncontrollably, leading to confusion, shock, and a drop in blood pressure.
Within 48 hours of admission, doctors had to intubate her for invasive mechanical ventilation and initiate blood purification due to multiple organ failure caused by the infection. After 5 days, extensive lung damage developed, causing acute respiratory distress syndrome with severe, treatment-resistant hypoxemia. Notably, the patient had no prior history of cardiovascular or respiratory disease.
Dr. Tran Thanh Nam from the Cardiovascular Resuscitation Department said that blood cultures identified Klebsiella pneumoniae, a bacterium commonly responsible for urinary tract infections and known for its strong antibiotic resistance. In severe cases, this bacterium can cause multiple organ failure and become life-threatening.
The medical team swiftly implemented veno-venous ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) to support her lungs. While this procedure offers a chance of survival for obese individuals, it carries significant risks, including difficulty accessing blood vessels due to thick adipose tissue, and a higher risk of blood clots, embolisms, and infections compared to individuals of average weight.
Managing antibiotic and anticoagulant dosages, along with overall patient care, presented a major challenge. Thanks to the multidisciplinary collaboration of intensive care, cardiology, clinical pharmacy, physiotherapy, and nutrition specialists, the patient recovered quickly after 8 days of ECMO intervention.
Before discharge, the patient received detailed advice on a proper diet. Doctors also developed a long-term outpatient follow-up plan to manage her weight, diabetes, and other metabolic risk factors.
"I'm grateful to the doctors and nurses who saved my life," the patient shared. "I will seriously change my lifestyle, lose weight, and follow the instructions to protect my health."
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Doctors examine the patient before discharge. Photo: Hospital provided |
Doctors examine the patient before discharge. Photo: Hospital provided
Obesity is a growing chronic disease not only in developed countries but also in Vietnam, with the prevalence of overweight and obese adults in a community survey reaching 20%. Beyond the cosmetic impact of a high BMI, obesity is a cause or risk factor for several dangerous conditions, including hypertension, type 2 diabetes, stroke, and even cancer.
"An often overlooked fact is that obesity makes the body more susceptible to infections, and when infections occur, they tend to be more severe and difficult to control compared to individuals of average weight," Dr. Nhat explained. This places a significant burden on the healthcare system and the socio-economy, leading to extended hospital stays, high treatment costs, the risk of disability and death, and a reduced quality of life.
Doctors recommend a combination of a healthy diet and regular exercise, maintaining a healthy BMI, limiting high-calorie and fatty foods, increasing the intake of vegetables and fruits, and exercising for at least 30 minutes/day on at least 3 days/week. Proactive regular health check-ups are also advised to screen for risk factors and detect obesity- and infection-related diseases early.
Managing underlying conditions, especially diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease, is crucial to reduce the risk of complications from infections. Obese individuals with a BMI > 30 kg/m2 should seek consultation and treatment at major hospitals with specialized metabolic or obesity treatment departments.
Le Phuong
