Health

Nghe An Maternity and Pediatrics Hospital performed emergency surgery to save the life of a mother and child with severe placental abruption.

Hoang Yen June 26, 2025 17:01

Recently, Nghe An Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital provided emergency treatment to a pregnant woman suffering from severe placental abruption - an extremely dangerous obstetric complication that can take her life in an instant.

At 3:22 p.m. on June 19, Ms. NTT (28 years old, first pregnancy - 36 weeks pregnant, residing in Do Luong district) suddenly experienced severe abdominal pain accompanied by vaginal bleeding. Immediately, Ms. T was taken to the hospital by her family.Nghe An Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospitalto check.

Through examination and ultrasound, doctors discovered typical signs of severe abruption: large hematoma behind the placenta, mixed echo structure behind the placenta measuring 100x56 mm, fetal heart rate only 60 beats/minute (compared to normal level 120-160 beats/minute), increased uterine tone and vaginal discharge of dark red, non-clotting blood.

This is a warning sign of acute fetal distress due to placental abruption – a critical obstetric emergency that can lead to fetal death within minutes if not treated promptly.

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Doctors examine pregnant woman NTT Photo: Hoang Yen

Realizing the critical situation, the Center for Prenatal and Neonatal Screening and Diagnosis urgently raised the red alert, mobilizing the participation of the Department of Obstetrics, the Department of Neonatal Emergency Resuscitation, the Department of Surgical Intensive Care and the Department of Anesthesia and Resuscitation.

The doctors immediately decided to take the patient straight to the operating room to perform an emergency cesarean section, saving the lives of both mother and child. While the operating room was being urgently prepared, the doctors also estimated the amount of blood needed for transfusion during the surgery.

In less than 30 minutes after being admitted to the hospital, the surgery was urgently performed in an extremely tense atmosphere. At exactly 3:50 p.m., the baby boy weighing 2,400 grams was taken out of his mother's womb in a state of cyanosis, not breathing on his own, with a slow and weak heartbeat.

Without a second of hesitation, the Neonatal Intensive Care doctors immediately entered the "battle" to save the baby's life. Right in the operating room, the Neonatal Intensive Care doctors performed endotracheal intubation and performed intensive resuscitation procedures on the spot to save the baby. After initial stabilization, the baby was transferred to the Neonatal Intensive Care Department for continued intensive care.

At the same time, the team of doctors at the Obstetrics Department tried to preserve the mother's uterus. During the process of removing the placenta, about 400 grams of dark red blood clots were recorded. The surgery was completed urgently and tensely, but the result was beyond expectations: both mother and child were saved...

The mother T. was transferred to the Surgical Intensive Care Unit for post-operative monitoring, and her health condition is now stable. The newborn baby is now breathing and breastfeeding on his own and is expected to be discharged in the next few days.

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The child's health has stabilized and he is expected to be discharged in the next few days. Photo: Hoang Yen

DoctorsNghe An Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospitalsaid: Premature placental abruption is a rare complication, accounting for about 1% of pregnancies but has a very high rate of complications for the mother and especially the baby. When the placenta separates early from the uterine wall, the blood flow and nutrients to the fetus are immediately cut off, which can cause rapid fetal distress, blood clotting disorders and directly threaten the mother's life.

In the case of pregnant woman T, if not diagnosed accurately and intervened promptly, the consequences could have been irreversible. Saving the baby's life and preserving the mother's uterus was a miracle that came from the urgent, precise, and professional coordination between the hospital's specialties.

Through this, doctors advise that placental abruption is unpredictable and can happen suddenly, even in pregnancies without obvious risk factors. Therefore, pregnant women need to follow a regular pregnancy check-up schedule and go to a medical facility immediately if there are unusual signs such as severe abdominal pain, vaginal bleeding, and weak fetal movement.

This successful emergency case is not only a testament to the solid professional capacity and the urgent, dedicated spirit of the medical team at Nghe An Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital; but also affirms the key role of early detection, accurate diagnosis and effective coordination between comprehensive obstetrics and pediatrics specialties in obstetric emergency work, saving the lives of both mother and baby./.

Hoang Yen