A 31-week pregnant woman was in critical condition due to severe preeclampsia and acute fetal distress. Doctors performed emergency surgery to help the baby be born safely and the mother’s health stabilized.
On November 22, Dr. Ta Thi Thanh Thuy, Head of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, City International Hospital, said that the pregnant woman was admitted to the hospital with high blood pressure, increased proteinuria, generalized edema and increased liver enzymes, acute kidney failure, and progressive hyperkalemia. These are typical signs of severe preeclampsia with complications of acute kidney injury, which can lead to eclampsia and threaten the lives of both mother and fetus.
Despite aggressive medical treatment, the patient still responded poorly, with progressive kidney failure, accompanied by acidosis and hyperkalemia. The emergency resuscitation team coordinated with the internist to closely monitor the fetal heart and detect signs of acute fetal distress. Realizing that the situation could turn critical at any time, Dr. Thuy decided to perform an emergency cesarean section, in a situation where mother and baby were both in danger, with the mother having respiratory failure, acute pulmonary edema, and severe fetal heart failure.
Doctors operate on pregnant women. Image: Hospital provided
Thanks to the smooth coordination between specialties, the baby girl weighing 1.1 kg was taken out of her mother’s womb, initially not crying, not breathing and losing muscle tone. After about a minute of resuscitation, the baby’s breathing and reflexes returned, he was given CPAP breathing support and transferred to neonatal resuscitation care. The baby received a surfactant pump to support the lungs, complete intravenous nutrition through the umbilical catheter, and control infection. Up to now, the baby is breathing well on his own, draining milk regularly and gaining weight steadily.
After surgery, the pregnant woman received continuous dialysis and treatment at the Intensive Care Department. Currently, the mother is gradually overcoming the critical condition, her blood pressure is controlled, her kidney function is restored and serious complications are avoided.
Dr. Thuy recommends that preeclampsia is one of the most dangerous obstetric complications, progressing rapidly and difficult to predict. Many cases have no obvious symptoms until they become severe. Regular prenatal examinations, monitoring blood pressure, weight and urine tests are extremely important for early detection, timely treatment and ensuring safety for mother and fetus.