As we know that Covid 19 infection is lethal to humans but could be more severe in pregnancy. This is the story of a 32 year, 8 months pregnant lady living in Katni (M.P.). Last month, she started having headaches, tingling in limbs, lower leg paralysis, and generalized weakness and was admitted in a nearby hospital. When she was found to be Covid 19 positive and in labor pains, she was immediately referred to a higher Centre. Her family rushed to Nagpur in the early morning and hospitalized her at KRIMS hospitals at Ramdaspeth.
Immediately she was attended by Obstetrician-Gynecologist Dr. Dipti Shende. A decision to perform emergency cesarean delivery was taken and then she delivered a premature newborn who was admitted to NICU for 5days. After cesarean delivery, she started having difficulty breathing, speaking, and severe generalized weakness. She was immediately shifted to the Intensive care unit (ICU) where she received CPR because of bradycardia and respiratory arrest.
Because of complete respiratory failure, she was put on ventilatory support. She was examined by a Neurologist, Dr.Anand Somkuwar who clinically suspected Guillian Barre Syndrome as the cause of her weakness and respiratory failure. Simultaneously she was also found to have left-sided pneumonia. She was treated with intravenous Immunoglobulins for 5 days.
Her Covid pneumonia was treated by the COVID-19 Team of pulmonologists led by Dr. Sameer Arbat at KRIMS Hospitals. She was gradually weaned off from the ventilator after 28 days under due care of a neurologist. Gradually her weakness started improving. After 7 days she was discharged from the hospital when she was able to stand with support and move the upper limbs completely. It is noteworthy that KRIMS Hospital, Ramdaspeth is a dedicated Covid hospital and in circumstances of Covid 19 pandemic with the due risk of getting self-infection, novel work done by Dr.Anand Somkuwar, Dr. Dipti Shende, Dr. Sameer Arbat, and Dr. Rohini Dharmadikari, and the whole ICCU team of KRIMS Hospitals gave a new life to this Covid 19 pregnant female and her baby. Such a scenario is rarely encountered in clinical practice and this is work is truly appreciable and awardable.
“Patients of COVID-19 requiring Ventilatory Support fall into the severe category. Any complications related to COVID-19 in
pregnancy is a big challenge for doctors. I believe that Dr. Anand and Dr. Dipti played a very crucial role by attending to this COVID-19 case at a time when it was difficult to find a specialist. It was 30 days of rigorous efforts put in by three specialties of Obstetrician, Neurologist and Pulmonologists that this patient could come out healthy from such a complicated clinical situationâ€, commented Dr Sameer Arbat, Interventional Pulmonologist, KRIMS Hospitals.
“During pregnancy body’s immune system is alter and response to viral infection can cause more severe symptoms.
There is a possibility of transmitting the disease to babies also. Early identification and assessment of her symptoms played a key
role in her treatment “, commented Dr Dipti Shende who was the primary doctor to attend to this case.
KRIMS Hospitals, Ramdaspeth is a dedicated COVID-19 Centre and has treated more than 300 COVID-19 cases over the past few months