Operating Korea’s Largest Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), Providing Intensive Care for 800 Newborns Annually, Including 130 Preterm Infants Survival Rate of Preemies Weighing Less than 500g Recorded at 66%, Far Exceeding the National Average of 35%... A Result of Multidisciplinary Care and the Dedication of Medical Professionals ▲ Professor Byong Sop Lee (center) is treating a pediatric patient at the NICU of Asan Medical Center.   Geonwoo and Sarang, born weighing 288g and 302g, a newborn diagnosed with a rare congenital gastrointestinal disease found in only six cases worldwide, and a baby born at 1,030g who grew to 3.4kg within five months and successfully underwent the smallest-weight liver transplantation in South Korea. These tiny lives, whose survival seemed impossible, have achieved miracles in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Asan Medical Center.   The Children's Hospital of Asan Medical Center currently operates the largest NICU with 62 beds. AMC Children’s Hospital has revealed that approximately 20,000 newborns, including preemies, have been treated since its opening in 1989.   Each year, over 800 high-risk newborns, including preterm infants born before 35 weeks, weighing less than 2,000g, or those requiring medical interventions such as surgery, receive intensive treatment in the NICU at Asan Medical Center.   Babies born before 37 weeks of their mothers’ pregnancy are called preterm infants, or preemies, signifying their early birth. The official medical names for them are very low birth weight infant (VLBWI, less than 1,500g) and extremely low birth weight infant (ELBWI, less than 1,000g).   Preemies and newborns who are critically ill require a meticulous medical approach due to their small size and underdeveloped physiology. Their tiny blood vessels make injections, surgeries, and medicinal administrations much more challenging, and even minor situations that would not be a problem for adults can be lethal. Therefore, their conditions should be monitored and managed with extra care.   The NICU at Asan Medical Center is recognized for providing the highest level of care, achieving some of the highest survival rates for preterm infants in South Korea. Annually, approximately 130 preterm infants weighing less than 1,500g are treated, and their survival rates exceed 90%. Of these, an annual average of 60 are preterm infants weighing less than 1,000g, with an 85% survival rate.   Infants born weighing less than 500 grams are so rare that even the medical community has yet to establish a standard term for them. Despite this, Asan Medical Center has achieved remarkable outcomes, with 23 out of 35 such infants surviving over the past five years, an impressive survival rate of 66%. This far surpasses the national average of 35% and is comparable to the survival rates seen in Japan, a global leader in preterm infant care.   In addition to preemies, newborns with congenital conditions also make up a significant proportion of patients in the NICU at Asan Medical Center. Approximately 48% of hospitalized newborns have congenital diseases, such as congenital heart disease, gastrointestinal deformities, and abnormalities in the brain or spinal cord, requiring highly specialized medical care. 12% of these newborns are very LBWIs weighing less than 1,500g with congenital malformations, a figure three times higher than the national average of 4%.   ▲ On November 17th, in front of a wall decorated in purple, symbolizing World Prematurity Day, the medical team from the Division of Neonatology and NICU at Asan Medical Center are taking a commemorative photo, reinforcing their commitment to the healthy growth and treatment of preterm infants.   This high percentage of newborns with congenital malformations at AMC’s NICU is attributed to the Fetal Treatment Center, where most of the high-risk pregnancies and embryos diagnosed with prenatal deformity are transferred to the NICU. The Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology identifies severe malformations, such as prenatal heart diseases and congenital diaphragmatic hernia at early fetal stages, and increases the success rate of treatment by collaborating closely with the Division of Neonatology, which is able to provide immediate treatment after delivery.   The NICU at Asan Medical Center operates a multidisciplinary, collaborative care system to improve the chances of survival of preterm infants and newborns with congenital anomalies or rare diseases. A dedicated team of 13 neonatologists and pediatric cardiologists, four nurse specialists, and over 120 nurses work collaboratively to devise optimal treatment strategies. The NICU also benefits from in-house pharmacists, nutritionists, and lactation specialists, who provide customized care tailored to the unique needs of critically ill and rare-disease newborns, further improving treatment outcomes.   Since its establishment with 18 beds in 1989, the NICU at Asan Medical Center has gradually expanded in response to a growing demand for treatment of critically ill newborns. In 2013, the NICU was divided into two specialized sections, NICU 1 and NICU 2, allowing for more targeted and specialized treatment to better address the diverse needs of newborns requiring intensive care.   In 2018, the Division of Neonatology, Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Division of Pediatric Cardiac Surgery, and Division of Pediatric Surgery joined forces to operate South Korea’s first extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) specialized in newborns, creating a system to treat newborns with intractable respiratory failure. In 2023, the NICU was further subdivided into three ICUs tailored to preterm infants, developmental care needs, and surgical conditions, setting a new standard for personalized neonatal care.   Despite the greater resources and efforts required for pediatric patient care, investment and attention are relatively limited compared to adult patient care. The NICU at Asan Medical Center overcomes these challenges through the dedication and sense of duty of its medical staff. Going beyond mere treatment, the NICU contributes to the hospital’s social responsibility by offering a compassionate touch to both the infants and their families.   Professor Byong Sop Lee of the Division of Neonatology stated, “The world’s highest survival rate for preemies weighing less than 500g is the result of collaborative efforts of our medical professionals, including our experienced nursing team, and the multidisciplinary care system for which our predecessors laid foundations,” and added, “Continuous social attention and policy support are essential for sustained high-risk neonatal care. I hope more family-centered treatment can be provided in a homelier medical environment in the future.”   President Tae-Sung Ko of AMC Children's Hospital said, “The NICU is not just a place for extending life. It is a space of hope where preemies and critically ill newborns can grow healthy. AMC Children's Hospital will further strive to provide meticulous and compassionate care so that these fragile lives can be respected and have a healthy future.”  

Over 1,000 Local Residents Treated… 75 Surgeries, Including Cataract and Lipoma Removals "Fulfilling to offer a new life to residents who have lived with untreated illnesses, disconnected from medical care." ▲ Professor HyunSuk Peter Suh of the Department of Plastic Surgery (far right), performs a lipoma removal surgery on a resident in Berastagi, Indonesia.   AMC Medical Volunteers, a medical volunteering team of Asan Medical Center, recently brought their expertise to Indonesia's volcanic ash-affected region, providing critical care and surgical services to local residents.   The 32-member team, including 5 physicians and 21 nurses, traveled to Berastagi, North Sumatra, from November 17 to 23. During their mission, they treated 1,030 residents and performed 75 surgeries, including cataract and lipoma removals.   Berastagi, a mountainous area on the island of Sumatra, continues to suffer from the aftermath of Mount Sinabung's 2010 eruption. The volcano continues to erupt intermittently, displacing over 10,000 residents from their homes. An estimated 300,000 people in the surrounding area live under the constant threat of further volcanic activity.   The region’s healthcare system is in a dire state. It suffers from a severe shortage of medical facilities and trained professionals. Moreover, infection control measures in existing hospitals are often inadequate, leading to frequent post-surgical infections, some of which result in death. Consequently, many residents distrust hospitals, turning instead to traditional healers for treatments, such as setting dislocated joints, perpetuating non-medical practices.   AMC Medical Volunteers established a temporary treatment center at Kabanjahe Hospital, where they conducted 150 blood and urine tests, 126 ophthalmologic exams, 54 X-rays, 51 ultrasounds, 35 electrocardiograms, and 15 echocardiograms. They also distributed essential medications, such as pain relievers and anti-inflammatory drugs, brought from Korea.   AMC Medical Volunteers included specialists from the Department of Plastic Surgery and the Division of Acute Care Surgery, enabling the team to perform a variety of complex procedures typically unavailable at local hospitals. They conducted 49 pterygium excisions, 14 cataract surgeries, 1 ophthalmic surgery, and 11 other operations, including lipoma removals, for a total of 75 surgeries.   ▲ AMC Medical Volunteers treated over 1,000 patients during their visit to Berastagi, Indonesia.   Many of the patients suffered from conditions that could have been easily treated with proper medication or minor surgeries. However, economic hardships and inadequate medical infrastructure had forced them to endure their ailments for years.   AMC Medical Volunteers worked tirelessly from dawn until late at night to maximize the number of patients they could provide care. Grateful residents expressed their appreciation with heartfelt “Terima kasih” (“Thank you”).   Professor Sei Won Lee, the Head of AMC Medical Volunteers and Professor of the Division of Pulmonology and Critical Care Medicine, remarked, “Berastagi lacks even basic medical infrastructure, including facilities capable of performing cataract surgeries. This mission was deeply fulfilling, as it allowed us to provide better health and hope to residents who have lived with untreated illnesses for so long.”   Since its inception, AMC Medical Volunteers has embodied the founding mission of the Asan Foundation of ‘helping the underprivileged of our society.’ Since 2009, the initiative has expanded globally, delivering medical aid in 16 countries across 55 missions. This year alone, AMC Medical Volunteers visited Uganda in January and Kyrgyzstan in February. Additionally, Asan Medical Center offers lifesaving care by inviting patients with severe conditions, who cannot be treated locally, to Korea at no cost.