Pune: New Sangvi resident Juhi Mehra (name changed) found the delivery of her first child turning into a nightmare when she began experiencing eclampsia , a condition that involves the sudden onset of seizures or coma in women with preeclampsia . On July 8, 25-year-old Mehra was brought to the Ankura Hospital for Women and Children in Aundh in her 33rd week of pregnancy. The young mother, experiencing antepartum eclampsia, was in an unconscious state in the emergency room.
She had a history of episodes of dizziness and sweating at home. The life-threatening situation endangered both mother and child — but the timely intervention of doctors managed to save them both. Consultant anaesthesiologist Dr Pooja Deshpande elaborated, "Eclampsia is a life-threatening complication of severe preeclampsia, which in simple terms means seizures that occur in pregnant women.
High blood pressure often strains the blood vessels and there can be swelling in the brain that leads to seizures." As per the Union ministry of health, eclampsia is one of the leading causes of maternal mortalities in the country. Dr Madhulika Singh, senior consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist at the city-based private hospital, said, "As soon as the patient was brought to us, she was put on mechanical ventilator support.
Antihypertensive and anticonvulsant treatment began under strict monitoring. Given her condition, the baby had to be delivered. So, through a planned Caesarean section , we could deliver a healt.