Hypertension deliveries: Hyderabad doctors discuss challenges, precautions & management

Hyderabad: Deliveries involving hypertension cases present a challenge, often necessitating advanced medical interventions for safe delivery. With approximately one case in every 1,000 deliveries involving hypertension, these instances require specialized care due to the heightened risks they pose to both the mother and the baby.

Understanding Hypertension Deliveries

Hypertension deliveries occur when pregnant women experience high blood pressure, which can lead to complications such as pre-eclampsia, intrauterine growth restriction, and even fetal death. These conditions necessitate careful monitoring and management to ensure the well-being of both the mother and the baby.

The Case: Overcoming Complex Medical Challenges

In a recent case at Star Hospitals in Hyderabad, a 30-year-old woman with Non-Cirrhotic Portal Hypertension (NCPH) faced medical challenges during her pregnancy. Along with NCPH, she also had grade 3 varices with RCS, an enlarged spleen, and a low platelet count of just 35,000. Seeking specialized care, she was referred to BirthRight by Rainbow Hospitals for comprehensive management.

A multidisciplinary team from Rainbow Children’s Hospital, BirthRight by Rainbow, and Star Hospitals collaborated to assess her condition and discuss potential risks, including variceal bleeding, spontaneous abortion, and premature delivery. Throughout her pregnancy, the patient received expert care, including beta blockers and close monitoring of coagulation levels, fetal heart rate, and overall fetal health.

Expert Insights: Managing Hypertension Cases

Dr. Srinivasa Reddy, Consultant Hepatology & Liver Transplant Physician at Star Hospitals Financial District, highlighted the complexity of the patient's condition: "She has been diagnosed with Non-Cirrhotic Portal Hypertension (NCPH) during pregnancy. The blood vessels in the liver become engorged, causing portal hypertension. This condition resulted in her spleen enlargement with dilated blood vessels over the food pipe, known as varices. Such patients are at high risk of bleeding or liver failure, compounded by the added complexity of pregnancy."

Dr. Himabindu Annamraju, Senior Consultant in Obstetrics and Gynecology at BirthRight by Rainbow Hospitals, reflected on the challenges and the successful outcome: "Ensuring a safe delivery for a patient with NCPH demands meticulous planning and teamwork. Pregnancy with liver disease is a complex condition requiring specialist medical care. This patient was at high risk of developing hypertension, pre-eclampsia, intrauterine growth restriction, and even in-utero fetal death. She was closely monitored during her pregnancy with regular blood tests and fetal scans for fetal well-being."

The collaborative efforts of medical experts resulted in a successful delivery, with both mother and child reported to be doing well post-delivery.