Medicover Hospital delivers high-risk pregnancy with low platelets.

Apr 14 2022 | Medicover Hospitals | Hyderabad

Pravallika was later diagnosed with a low platelet count of 1000 and an O- negative blood group. Usually, such pregnancies are called "Rh-negative pregnancy". Most importantly, we must know that only 7 out of every 100 people have such a blood group.

Hyderabad, 14th April, 2022: In a rare high-risk pregnancy, Medicover hospital exhibited excellence and turned out to be a lifesaver for the mother and the child.

A 21-year-old lady Pravallika from Jagityal district, who was seven months pregnant, was admitted to Medicover hospital, Chandanagar. Her main medical problem was low platelet count due to which other hospitals refused to admit her. She finally reached Medicover hospitals, where she was admitted under Dr Neethi Mala Mekala - Consultant Obstetrician &Gynaecologist, Fertility Specialist, Sonologist (Obs& Gynae.) & Medico-legal Consultant.

On further examination by Dr Neethi Mala Mekala, it was found that she had chronic ITP (immunological disorder). It is a disease that affects one in every 10,000 pregnant women. Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is a blood disorder caused by a decrease in the blood platelet count. Platelets are blood cells that help in blood clotting. The risk of bleeding increases due to low platelet levels. Normal platelet levels are usually above 100000 (one lakh) mark in pregnant women, but in Pravallika case, it was only 1000 (thousand).

The amniotic fluid was found to be less on further examination and the infant's heartbeat was also irregular. Now for the safety of both the mother and the unborn child, it became necessary to do delivery and take the baby out. At the same time, saving a mother's life with only 1000 platelets was a challenging task. The situation demanded only one of the two to be saved.

Dr Neethi Mala Mekala explained to the patient's parents that this was a tough time and immediate delivery had to be done. At this point, Dr NeethiMala Mekala decided to operate on the patient, taking this as a challenge to save both the mother and the child. On the one hand, the patient was administered platelets and medicines (since intraoperative blood loss was anticipated), and on the other hand, they did the delivery and saved the baby. The baby's platelet count was also low; therefore, she was kept in the NICU under the care of a paediatrician for four days.

Under the supervision of Dr P Kiranmayi, who is a general physician at Medicover hospitals, Chanda Nagar; steroids were administered regularly to the patient and her blood platelet count increased.

Dr. Vishwesh- head of critical care and anesthesiologist, assisted in this rare surgery.

According to Dr Neethi Mala Mekala, pregnant women with such disorders (high-risk pregnancies) are advised to choose suitable hospitals & doctors and use the medicines under their supervision.

Both the mother and the baby were discharged in good condition. Both survivors and their family members are extremely happy today and are thankful to the doctors and Medicover Hospitals for giving them a new lease of life.