Govt hosp performs C-section on woman with rare disease

Mangaluru: Government Lady Goschen Hospital here has successfully performed surgery on a pregnant woman suffering from life-threatening haemophilia, giving a new lease of life to both mother and child.

The woman, who inherited Von Willebrand Disease (VWD), a bleeding disorder, had received treatment at a private hospital since childhood. After getting married, she conceived but faced the risk of bleeding due to haemophilia during pregnancy, which could be fatal.

The disease is primarily caused by a deficiency of Factor VIII, which is crucial in stopping bleeding. This factor needs to be artificially administered regularly. Unfortunately, treatment for this rare condition, affecting one in a lakh, is not easily accessible, and the injections derived from plasma are expensive. The costs proposed by private hospitals were beyond her expectations. In such cases, maternal death is almost certain.

Hospital medical superintendent Dr Durgaprasad MR said despite understanding the seriousness of her condition, the woman, caught in a dilemma due to family reasons, was determined to become a mother, even at the cost of her life. "Her relatives consulted Dr Sharath Kumar at Wenlock Blood Bank about the supply of Factor VIII injections. Given the complexity of her pregnancy, Government Lady Goschen Hospital took on the challenge of ensuring the safety of both mother and child. The govt arranged for the weekly administration of the necessary injections throughout her pregnancy. She was admitted to the hospital 20 days before her expected delivery date, and a caesarean section was safely performed with all preparations in place. The govt provided 25,000 units of this rare and expensive injection during her care," Dr Durgaprasad said.

Obstetricians and gynaecologists Dr Anupama Rao, Dr Siriganesh, Dr Namitha, anaesthetists Dr Sumesh Rao, Dr Ranjan, and the nursing staff at the hospital helped in the task. After about 10 days of postnatal care, the woman returned home.