Mangaluru Hospital Achieves Medical Milestone in High-Risk Pregnancy Case
In a remarkable display of medical expertise and perseverance, doctors at KMC Hospital Attavar have successfully navigated an extremely high-risk pregnancy, culminating in the safe discharge of both mother and baby after nearly two and a half months of intensive hospital care. This complex case involved multiple severe complications that required meticulous management and timely intervention.
A Challenging Medical History and Critical Diagnosis
A 37-year-old woman, who was 26 weeks and five days into her pregnancy, presented for a routine antenatal check-up at the hospital. Her obstetric history was already fraught with difficulties, including an abortion eleven years prior and a previous caesarean section four years ago due to severe pregnancy-induced hypertension, which tragically resulted in the loss of the baby.
During her regular consultations with Dr. Nina Mahale, a consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist, the patient was diagnosed with high blood pressure and was promptly admitted on November 28 last year. Subsequent diagnostic evaluations revealed two grave conditions:
- Complete Placenta Previa (Grade 4): A critical situation where the placenta entirely covers the cervix, posing a significant risk of life-threatening hemorrhage during delivery.
- Severe Fetal Growth Restriction: The baby was markedly undersized for the gestational age, indicating compromised development and health.
Advanced Monitoring and Escalating Complications
The medical team initiated a comprehensive treatment protocol, administering medications to stabilize the mother's blood pressure and steroid injections to accelerate the maturation of the baby's lungs. They employed regular ultrasound and doppler scans to vigilantly track fetal growth and blood circulation.
An MRI scan further complicated the prognosis by detecting placenta accreta, an abnormal attachment of the placenta to the uterine wall, which substantially elevated the danger of excessive bleeding during childbirth. By December 13, the situation deteriorated as doppler scans indicated reversed blood flow in the umbilical cord, signaling severe fetal distress.
Emergency Intervention and Specialized Neonatal Care
With the mother's hypertension remaining uncontrolled and the baby's condition worsening, the healthcare professionals made the critical decision to perform an emergency caesarean section at 29 weeks of gestation on December 16. A baby girl, weighing a mere 690 grams, was delivered and immediately transferred to the paediatric team for specialized care in the neonatal intensive care unit.
The newborn received round-the-clock medical attention, while the mother continued under close observation. After an arduous hospital stay spanning approximately 2.5 months, both were discharged in stable health on February 17. At discharge, the infant had achieved a weight of 1.5 kilograms, reflecting significant progress under expert care.
A Testament to Collaborative Medical Excellence
This case underscores the importance of advanced obstetric monitoring, timely diagnostic imaging, and coordinated multidisciplinary care in managing high-risk pregnancies. The successful outcome at KMC Hospital Attavar highlights the dedication of medical teams in overcoming complex maternal-fetal health challenges, offering hope and reassurance to families facing similar obstetric emergencies.
