Vim & Vigor - Spring 2012 - Gwinnett Medical Center - (Page 7)

Delivery O ver the years, some physicians develop an additional sense. Like an internal navigator, this sense, or intuition, is felt very deep in the gut. Skill, time and conﬁdence condition the sense, which can be a powerful force in changing and, at times, saving lives. Neonatologist Leslie Leigh, M.D., has a selfawareness and intuition that is pervasive. These characteristics, along with technology at Gwinnett Medical Center’s Gwinnett Women’s Pavilion, came to the aid of a Duluth family whose son was born with insufﬁcient oxygen to the brain. On a cool, fall night in 2010, Dr. Leigh was at GMC, packing for home. But because he lingered that particular day, he was on hand for an emergency delivery. Laurel Garner and son Cooper meet with NICU nurse Lynn Lindsey. COMPLICATIONS ARISE Laurel Garner and husband Corey had every reason to believe the birth of their second son would be as typical as it was for their ﬁrst; however, it was anything but normal. “Laurel’s delivery was a challenge,” Dr. Leigh says, “because of the size of the baby and the relatively small size of the mother.” Cooper, Garner’s second child, weighed about 10 pounds at birth. During delivery, Garner experienced shoulder dystocia, which occurs when the child’s head passes but the shoulders cannot, and is considered an emergency. The umbilical cord is compressed and possibly pinched shut between the baby’s shoulders and the mother’s pelvis, starving the boy’s brain of oxygen and putting him at risk of brain damage or death. The staff quickly discussed the options and decided to continue with natural delivery. “My husband and I knew it was a very serious situation when the clinicians and the doctor began praying,” she continues. “We kept hearing ‘code’ repetitively on the intercom system as Cooper was being rushed to the NICU [neonatal intensive care unit].” SAVING THE BABY’S BRAIN It was Dr. Leigh’s job to salvage Cooper’s brain. For treatment, the team used the Cool-Cap system, employing cutting-edge technology called selective head cooling. This approach consists of cooling the CALL For questions about specialized newborn care at GMC, including Cool-Cap technology, call 678-312-3970 or visit gwinnettmedicalcenter.org. More on Specialized Newborn Care Vim & Vigor · SPRI NG 2012 7 http://www.gwinnettmedicalcenter.org

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Vim & Vigor - Spring 2012 - Gwinnett Medical Center

Vim & Vigor - Spring 2012 - Gwinnett Medical Center
Contents
Phil’s Feature
The Philanthropist Next Door
Special Delivery
Get Real
How Far We’ve Come
Patient Survival Guide
Perfect Attendance
A New Day
Lean on Me
Intimidated by the Gym?
What Is Your Volunteer Style?
A Prescription for Relief
PrimeTime Health
Reclaiming Form and Function
Nice Follow-Through
Out of the White Coat
SPECIAL: Transforming Healthcare

Vim & Vigor - Spring 2012 - Gwinnett Medical Center