Fatal outcome with pregnancy and COVID-19

Abstract

Introduction: Multiple deaths and infections due to the new coronavirus have occurred. In the midst of this context, the spread of the disease in pregnant patients has been well documented.

Objective: Present the events that occurred in pregnant women, in order to share the experience with those who treat these patients.

Presentation of the case: The case of a 24-year-old pregnant woman, obese, with a pregnancy of 25 weeks is presented. She was admitted with COVID-19 pneumonia and evolution towards severe respiratory failure led to her death during cesarean section. She was received in the operating room with hypoxemia and hypercapnia, tachycardia, cyanosis, oliguria and ventilated at positive pressure with 100% oxygen. She was treated with ketamine, fentanyl and rocuronium. At 35 min, and after hysterotomy, she presented progressive bradycardia, so external chest compressions and pharmacological treatment were initiated. The sinus rhythm was recovered at 12 min, but the asystole stop relapsed at 20 min, with cyanosis. Compressions and administration of epinephrine were implemented until death 30 minutes later due to non-recovery of rhythm and certain signs of death.

Conclusions: Multidisciplinary care improves treatment conditions at all stages. Individualized anesthetic management offers an invaluable strategy in cases like these, regardless of the outcome. Pulmonary thromboembolism in pregnant women is a latent risk associated with COVID-19, exponentially increasing its lethality.

 Keywords: Pregnancy; COVID-19; resuscitation in the pregnant woman; pulmonary thromboembolism.