Fast heart rate of expecting mother and heart Failure risked two lives at child’s birth

Hyderabad: A 28 year old woman who was also 35 weeks along in her pregnancy had been experiencing elevated heart rate – her heart was beating 186/m. Due to which the muscle of her heart had become weak promoting events in her body that was leading to heart failure.

Even after having given an array of medications, her condition remained unresponsive and her arrhythmia persisted, putting her and her fetus’ life in danger. On top of her pre-existing medical condition, she was tested positive for COVID.

Doctors immediately put her on ventilation and 3D mapping was used  to locate the anomaly in her abnormal heart beat pattern  and was eradicated by radiofrequency ablation as soon as it was found.

The senior cardiologist and Director Division of Pacing & Electrophysiology, KIMS Hospital, Dr. B. Hygriv Rao, who also headed the team in the procedures carried out for the pregnant lady confided that, “spotting abnormal rhythms in a person isn’t all too difficult, but since the woman was pregnant they were all very concerned as the radiation from the procedure can prove to be detrimental to the fetus.”

Nevertheless, 3D mapping is a procedure that not only detects abnormal heart rhythms, but also makes sure in cases as fragile as this woman’s that baby is protected from the radiation.

The next step was to figure out how to save both mother and the fetus’s life. Given the woman’s deteriorating condition as her heart was failing, doctors had to perform the procedure without another moment’s delay. To save the baby an emergency c-section by obstetrician, Dr. Vasundhara and her team was performed and a premature baby weighing around 2.2kg was delivered. The child was then immediately put on ventilator by pediatric intensivist and was subsequently being managed in the pediatric intensive care unit. The next 24 hours saw both mother and her baby doing well.

“Availability of experts from different specialities under one roof and their prompt intervention and excellent team work helped avert catastrophic consequences.” Reckoned, Dr. Hygriv Rao.