Emergency surgery to save a patient with severe eclampsia and preterm fetal distress.
Recently, Hai Phong International Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital provided timely emergency care for a mother suffering from severe eclampsia, saving the life of her 32-week-old fetus who was in acute fetal distress.
The patient, T. T.V.A, a 24-year-old from Vinh Bao, Hai Phong, arrived at Hai Phong International General Hospital – Vinh Bao at 32 weeks of pregnancy, presenting with headaches, blurred vision, and significant swelling in both legs. She was diagnosed with severe eclampsia, with the risk of seizures occurring at any moment, endangering both mother and child. Immediately, she was prescribed sedatives, antihypertensive medication, and anti-edema drugs to temporarily halt the seizures and was quickly transferred to Hai Phong International Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital for emergency care. Although the transport team tried to be as swift as possible, upon arrival at the Emergency Obstetrics Department of Hai Phong International Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital, the patient suddenly experienced a seizure right on the stretcher. The obstetric nursing team, with their proficient emergency skills, performed soft gauze insertion into the patient’s mouth, provided oxygen therapy combined with resuscitation for the fetus, and promptly invited Assoc. Prof. Dr. CKII Tran Thi Viet Phuong – Director of the Obstetrics Specialty to consult. All procedures were carried out right on the patient’s transport stretcher to avoid missing any precious seconds. The condition at that timeThe condition of patient A and the fetus was extremely critical with chaotic rapid heart rate, severe generalized edema, coma with convulsions, and irregular fetal heart rate. The indication for seizure control through anesthesia and emergency surgery to deliver the fetus from the mother was urgently established.
The patient was transferred directly to the emergency operating room before the medical record could be completed. The surgical team was led by Ths.BS Phạm Văn Đô – Deputy Head of the Obstetrics Department, BSCKI. Lê Thị Huyên – Department of Obstetric Examination; the anesthesia team was led by BSCKI. Nguyễn Đỗ Hưng – Head of the Anesthesia and Resuscitation Department, and the emergency resuscitation team was led by BS. Nguyễn Đức Ninh – Pediatric Intensive Care Unit. TTUT.BSCKII Trần Thị Việt Phương – Director of the Obstetrics Specialty directly supervised the surgery in the operating room to minimize the risks that could occur for both mother and child.
The surgery was performed with the highest concentration of both human intellect and the best equipment and resuscitation medications for both mother and baby. The surgery concluded with initial success as the mother’s blood pressure decreased, the seizures were completely controlled, and the vital signs gradually stabilized. However, due to the fetus being in distress and only 32 weeks old, combined with the mother experiencing eclampsia requiring anesthesia, the baby could not cry immediately upon birth, exhibiting decreased muscle tone and cyanosis of the skin and lips due to lack of oxygen. Fortunately, thanks to the pediatric intensive care team with excellent neonatal resuscitation skills, along with adequate equipment and emergency neonatal resuscitation medications, the baby was quickly revived, crying out in joy and emotion from the entire team, and was subsequently transferred for care at the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit – International Pediatric Center, which has all the necessary conditions to nurture premature infants.
The recovery process of both the mother and the baby has been very positive. After a period of monitoring and care, both mother and child are stable and have been discharged from the hospital.
Sharing with us, mother A could not hide her emotions and joy: “I am truly grateful to the team of doctors and nurses in the Obstetrics Department as well as the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit who saved both my baby and me. If it weren’t for the dedication of the doctors and nurses, perhaps we wouldn’t be sitting here talking and sharing joy with our family anymore.”
Through the case of mother A, experts warn pregnant women to seek examination at reputable medical facilities to detect and manage obstetric conditions in a timely manner. Hai Phong International Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital is a leading obstetric facility in Hai Phong where expectant mothers can entrust their care, especially in cases of preterm birth and medical conditions – a place that perfectly combines Obstetrics with neonatal care and resuscitation.
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