Recently, Zhao Zhifu,a member of the 26th Chinese medical team to Mozambique and an anesthesiologist at Deyang People’s Hospital, participated in an operation to save a premature baby at Maputo Central Hospital in Mozambique, Africa. As the anesthesiologist for the operation, despite the acute scarcity of equipment and medicine, he accomplished an anesthesia task that was considered the ultimate challenge of his career and successfully administered general anesthesia to the infant, ensuring the smooth performance of the operation.

Zhao Zhifu (left), with the assistance of local doctors, performing endotracheal intubation for the infant

It is reported that the premature baby, who was born only six days ago,weighed a mere 1.8 kilograms and measured 43 centimeters in length, presented with an unclosed coccyx and a cutaneous defect in the lumbosacral region. The nerves that should normally be enclosed within the spinal canal were fully exposed outside the body.Without timely surgical repair, damages to these exposed nerves could likely lead to incontinence of urine and feces, paralysis of the lower limbs and even endanger his life.

As the hospital’s ventilators were unable to meet the premature baby’s fine breathing needs, Zhao Zhifu had no choice but to provide breathing support to the infant by manually pinching the breathing bag. During the procedure, a large amount of anesthetic gas leaked from the tail of the bag,causing Zhao to inhale the leaked anesthetic and experience discomfort such as dizziness and nausea. Enduring his discomfort, he precisely regulated respiratory support while closely monitoring vital signs such as the infant’s heart rate, blood pressure, and oxygen saturation, keeping a close eye on the position of the tracheal tube, and adjusting the dosage of anesthetic agents in real time according to changes in the patient's condition during the operation to prevent sudden risks such as tracheal tube prolapse and respiratory depression.

After the operation was successfully completed, Zhao Zhifu did not dare to slack off in the slightest and immediately focused on postoperative resuscitation. He carefully extubated the infant only after he had a steady breathing rhythm, was conscious and had successfully opened his eyes.

Speaking of this ultra-challenging surgical anesthesia task, Zhao Zhifu admitted that it was the most difficult case with the lightest patient weight he had ever encountered in his career as an anesthesiologist. In a distant foreign land, Zhao and his colleagues in the medical aid team to Africa, with their solid professional expertise, calm and composed emergency response capabilities, and reverence for life,forged ahead against all odds, not only successfully saved the life of the premature baby, but also through their actions, embodied the spirit of the medical aid team to Africa—“fear no hardship,dedicate oneself willingly,heal the wounded and rescue the dying,and love knows no bounds”. Their efforts painted a brilliant chapter in China-Mozambique medical cooperation and friendship.(by Huo Mingjie）