Prof Huma Arshad to inquire the death causes of the kids

Lahore : The Spokesman of Children Hospital has said that the Hospital’s Born Marrow Transplantation (BMT) team led by Dr. Mehwish Faizan under the supervision of Prof. Tahir Shamsi performed first ever bone marrow transplantation in public sector on two kids suffering from beta thalassemia major on Tuesday, 19^th September 2017. Dr. Tahir Shamsi, convener of this program physically supervised both procedures. Both donors recovered completely after donation without any complication and were discharged.

The spokesman further said that Bilal developed post condition mucositis (painful inflammation and ulceration of the mucous membranes lining the digestive track) which continue worsening along with swelling in neck and high grade fever after infusion of stem cells. Despite of all the combination of antibiotics to control the infection and swelling in the neck, he continued to deteriorate requiring ventilator support on 12^th day of BMT and died on Monday 2^nd October (day 13 post transplant).

He further said that Ashir 4 years old had transplant on same day but his blood counts did not show any evidence of bone marrow engraftment (primary graft failure) which is well known complication of bone marrow transplant. Ashir continued to receive blood, platelet transfusion all along during transplant period. White blood cells from different blood donors were transfusion to him daily to improve his WBC count. Re-infusion of stem cells was done on day 20 as well. He succumbs to death on Friday 13^th October 2017, (24^th day after BMT).

A review committee led by Prof. Dr. Huma Arshad Cheema has been constituted which will submit its report within 48 hours. It is necessary to clarify that transplant unit is closed just for necessary cleanliness to bring it to zero bug level & will be re-opened once ready as per protocol, the spokesman concluded.