This case stands out not only because of its rarity but also because it exemplifies high-level teamwork, rapid preparedness, and best medical practices across multiple specialties.

Antenatal Detection and High-Risk Admission

On 15/11/2025, a 28-year-old expectant mother was admitted under the expert care of Dr. Swatika Kumari, Senior Gynaecologist, after a detailed fetal anomaly scan revealed left-sided CDH with severely hypoplastic lungs.

Recognising the extreme risk of respiratory collapse immediately after birth, the hospital activated its High-Risk Delivery Protocol, ensuring that the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and surgical teams were on standby.

Birth and the Critical Golden Hour

The baby was delivered on November 15, 2025, at 9:16 AM. As anticipated, the newborn presented with severe respiratory distress, a classic indicator of compromised lung development in CDH cases.

Under the leadership of Dr. Ashwin Borade, Senior Pediatrician & Neonatologist, the NICU team initiated rapid resuscitation, advanced ventilation, and hemodynamic stabilisation. The first hour proved crucial, as the team worked swiftly to maintain oxygenation and prevent circulatory collapse.

Within hours, the neonate underwent a comprehensive evaluation to determine surgical readiness—an assessment made more challenging due to fragile lungs and compromised cardiopulmonary dynamics.

Life-Saving Surgical Intervention at 24 Hours of Life

At approximately 24 hours after birth, Dr. Pranav Jadhav, Pediatric Surgeon, performed a critical corrective surgery to reconstruct the diaphragm and reposition herniated abdominal organs.

The procedure required extraordinary precision, given:

1. The newborn’s severely underdeveloped lungs
2. High anaesthesia risk
3. Potential intra-operative instability

Early intervention, coupled with coordinated preparation in the NICU, proved decisive in improving long-term survival chances.

Intensive Post-Operative Care and Steady Recovery

Over the next several days, the newborn remained under continuous NICU monitoring, requiring ventilatory support and vigilant management to prevent complications such as pulmonary hypertension, sepsis, shock, or feeding issues.

NICU nurses and resident doctors provided round-the-clock care, ensuring stabilisation of respiratory and cardiovascular parameters, gradual weaning from the ventilator, and careful initiation of feeds.

During this period, Lactation Consultant Dr. Rani Balgude offered essential support to the mother. Through structured counselling, guided expression technique,s and supervised latching, she facilitated the successful initiation of breastfeeding—an outcome crucial for immunity, growth, and emotional bonding in high-risk neonates.

Discharge and A Story of Hope

On 07/12/2025, the baby was discharged in stable condition, feeding exclusively on breastmilk and showing no post-operative complications.

For the medical team, the moment symbolised the culmination of weeks of dedication and teamwork.

“Cases like this remind us that medicine is not just science—it is teamwork, trust, and compassion. Our NICU team worked around the clock, and watching this little warrior leave the hospital in good health was truly heart-warming,” said Dr. Ashwin Borade, Senior Pediatrician & Neonatologist.

“This successful outcome reinforces how early diagnosis, coordinated preparedness, and multidisciplinary expertise can turn a critical neonatal emergency into a story of survival and hope,” added Dr. Pranav Jadhav, Pediatric Surgeon.

The post Saving a Newborn with Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Through Expert Multidisciplinary Care appeared first on NRI News.

BENGALURU: MedGenome, a leading global Genomic Diagnostic and Research Services company in South Asia, becomes the first to offer advanced genomics services using Illumina’s NovaSeq X Plus in South Asia. With this, the company anticipates bringing down the reagent cost of Human Whole Genome sequencing to USD $200 in the near future. In conjunction with this acquisition, MedGenome is thrilled to launch KaryoSeq (or Karyotype Sequencing), an innovative Whole Genome Sequencing to diagnose prenatal and newborn conditions.

The NovaSeq X Series is Illumina’s most powerful sequencing system. With the ability to generate more than 20,000 whole genomes per year – 2.5 times the throughput of prior sequencers at a shorter turnaround time, this latest sequencer is aimed at making genomics more sustainable and accessible to more people globally. MedGenome has had a long-standing partnership with Illumina over the last decade expanding its portfolio of sequencing equipment with the latest offerings and becoming a leader in adopting the most up-to-date sequencing technology. NovaSeq X Plus promises to accelerate a deeper understanding of genetic disorders and can perform a broad range of data-intensive applications, bringing more breakthroughs in genetic disease diagnosis and treatment.

MedGenome has launched several breakthrough tests in key disease areas in the last few years. The latest offering, KaryoSeq has significant advantages over traditional cytogenetic and molecular techniques. The test is a faster and more accurate solution that allows for the detection of small chromosomal abnormalities, such as microdeletions or microduplications, that may not be easily identified through microscopic examination alone. It is recommended for individuals with suspected or confirmed genetic disorders or an increased risk of carrying chromosomal abnormalities, aiming to provide precise and rapid results, and helping clinicians and families make informed decisions about inherent genetic conditions.

Dr Vedam Ramprasad, Ph.D., CEO of, MedGenome said, “As pioneers in genetic testing with a deep focus on scientific innovation and research, bringing NovaSeq X Plus in India will help us in making faster and accurate diagnosis. The launch of KaryoSeq further marks a significant milestone in the field of prenatal and newborn genetic testing in this part of the world, empowering clinicians with accurate and comprehensive genetic information. Traditionally, the cost has played a major factor in penetrating the genetic testing market. MedGenome has been striving to make these tests affordable to the masses while adhering to global quality standards.  MedGenome’s KaryoSeq test is another step in this direction. The test is cost-effective while providing superior diagnostic yield and accuracy in identifying deletions and gains as small as 1 megabase (1 million DNA base pairs).”

MedGenome offers an extensive range of over 1300 advanced genetic tests covering various disease categories. With a CAP-accredited genetic testing laboratory in India and a high-throughput Next-Generation Sequencing lab in Foster City, California, the company has established itself as a prominent player in the field. Notably, MedGenome has developed the largest database of South Asian genetic variants through its expertise in genetic diagnostics, research collaborations, and its role as a co-founding member of GenomeAsia 100K. Serving more than 3,50,000 families through a network of over 4,000 hospitals and over 11,000 clinicians across India, MedGenome provides comprehensive genetic testing services and makes significant contributions to the field of genomics, and continues to revolutionize the healthcare space with its path-breaking genomics solutions.

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