Saving the lives of a mother and her child with placental abruption at the isolation area of ​​Nghe An Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital

On June 14, while at home, the pregnant woman H. experienced abdominal pain and vaginal bleeding, so her family took her to a hospital in Ha Tinh, then transferred her to the Nghe An Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital for emergency treatment. Upon arriving at the hospital gate, the pregnant woman was immediately transferred to the isolation area for emergency treatment due to Covid-19 epidemiological factors.

The emergency cesarean section team saved mother and child H. Photo: Hoang Yen

Immediately after receiving instructions from the hospital's on-duty leadership, the teams including Obstetric surgeons; Anesthetists and Neonatal Intensive Care Units were urgently mobilized from the inpatient treatment area to the isolation area to perform emergency surgery. Only about 20 minutes after the mother arrived at the hospital, the team successfully performed the surgery, "mother and child are safe".

When she was born, the baby girl was in a dangerous condition: pale skin, loss of muscle tone, no respiratory reflex...

Immediately, the doctors of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit performed first aid, intubation, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation. After 2 minutes of first aid on the spot, the baby's skin showed signs of becoming more rosy and had reflexes. The baby was then transferred to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in the isolation area for further treatment.

At this time, the obstetric surgeons also made efforts to preserve the uterus and maintain the mother's fertility. After the placenta was delivered, about 300 grams of blood was found behind the placenta, the uterus was slightly bruised... the surgical team performed sutures to preserve the uterus. After the surgery, the mother was taken to the intensive care unit for close postoperative monitoring. At the end of the surgery, the infection control department disinfected the entire isolation area and operating room.

The neonatal intensive care team is giving first aid to the baby as soon as he is born. Photo: Hoang Yen

The case of pregnant woman H. was an emergency case that was carried out very urgently thanks to the timely and accurate diagnosis and good coordination and quick response of the Obstetrics, Anesthesia, and Neonatal Resuscitation departments. In particular, the surgery was performed right in the hospital's isolation area, ensuring both the safety of the pregnant woman and fetus and the hospital's epidemic prevention safety.

Dr. Tran Quang Hanh - Deputy Head of Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Head of the surgical team said: "Nghe An Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital receives and handles many cases of premature placental abruption, however, this case of saving the newborn baby is extremely lucky for the family. Because from the time the mother had heavy vaginal bleeding at home until she arrived at Nghe An Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital, it took a long golden time for emergency surgery. The longer it takes, the lower the chance of saving the fetus and the higher the risk of death for the mother. Therefore, it is recommended that all pregnant women, especially in the last 3 months, if there are signs of vaginal bleeding, should immediately go to a medical facility for treatment.

Placental abruption is when the placenta is properly attached but partially or completely detaches before the fetus is born. Detaching the placenta before the fetus is born from the mother's womb will cut off the oxygen supply and metabolism for the fetus, leading to rapid fetal deterioration. If the fetus is not promptly removed by cesarean section, it can cause the fetus to suffocate or even die in the womb, and the mother may lose a lot of blood and may need a hysterectomy, which can even be life-threatening. Therefore, placental abruption is one of the most urgent surgeries in obstetrics.