ECMO Saves James After Rare Condition Occurs While in Hospital
ECMO is a technology that saves lives. Unfortunately, needing to be on ECMO often means that patients are facing dire circumstances. That was the case for James Fane, a 68-year-old veteran and retired law enforcement officer. James underwent back surgery to relieve pain and numbness in his leg. A few days after surgery, all seemed fine. He was walking well and looking forward to being discharged.
Then James and his care team noticed swelling in his stomach. He was diagnosed with Ogalvie syndrome, the sudden paralysis of the colon where the body reacts as though the bowels are blocked even though there is nothing physically obstructing them. Though it is rare, this can happen after a person undergoes surgery.
Despite the team working to address the issue, James’ condition worsened, and he had to be intubated and placed on a ventilator in the Intensive Care Unit. He experienced a pulmonary embolism, a blood clot in the lungs, which led to respiratory distress. His lungs and heart needed extra support to allow his body to heal.
Thankfully, Baptist Hospital is equipped with an ECMO program, including an incredible care team. ECMO stands for Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation, which is used to help support a patient’s heart and/or lungs.
James was on ECMO for 12 days as his body healed. “The care team in the ICU was phenomenal,” James’ wife, Kimberly, said. “All of the doctors were very encouraging, and they always explained things thoroughly.”
James and Kimberly’s daughter, Laura, is an ICU nurse at Baptist Hospital. “It was a big advantage having her on the ICU floor, as she could stay in touch with the doctors when I was not there,” Kimberly said. “Laura was able to keep an eye on him when she was at work.”
Without the assistance of ECMO, James’ heart and lungs may not have been able to function at full capacity while his body healed. This lifesaving technology and the experienced care team at Baptist made a difference for James. It saved his life. Baptist Hospital was the first to bring ECMO to Northwest Florida in 2017.
Kimberly recalls the moment when James was removed from ECMO. “It was a joyful moment for me to just hear his voice after they removed the intubation tube.”
Now James is continuing his recovery. “I go to therapy twice a week, and I’m very glad to be back home,” James said.
James is looking forward to getting back to what he loves. The couple are active members of St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Milton, Florida, where every Friday, James would assist with loading food at the church’s food pantry. He is actively regaining his strength so that he can once again volunteer at the food pantry and continue living a full life.
