On Sunday morning, 45 patients were discharged from the Da Nang-based Hoa Vang District Medical Centre following full COVD-19 recovery. Amongst them were a mother and her baby daughter from Hoa Son Commune, Hoa Vang District.

The leader of the Hoa Vang District Health Centre (left) handing out hospital discharge papers to the woman and her baby

The woman who was a worker at a local business contracted COVID-19 and then was hospitalised on August 27. At the time of hospital admission, she was 35 weeks and 6 days pregnant.  It was highly concerning that the patient suffered diabetes since the 25th week of pregnancy, especially with chronic fetal distress.

On the evening of the same day, doctors from the Hoa Vang Medical Centre and the Da Nang Maternity and Pediatrics Hospital decided to conduct a surgical intervention on them. Finally, the cesarean section was successful, but the baby could not breathe upon the birth.

The doctors and nurses, in a prompt fashion carried out resuscitation, intubation or ventilator use. Thanks to these interventions, the baby’s health gradually improved, and she had an effective self-breathing rhythm. Endotracheal extubation was then conducted for the baby’s non-invasive breathing through the nasal prongs. Later, she was transferred to the neonatal intensive care unit.

According to the diagnosis, the baby's main disease was neonatal asphyxia, with such problems oligohydramnios, fetal distress and infections from the womb. She was born with low blood sugar and was exposed to COVID-19. Main complications are severe to moderate respiratory failure.

After that, the baby was placed in the mother's room, supported with non-invasive mechanical ventilation through nasal prongs. She had a stable heart rate and was fed breast milk through a nasogastric tube.

After a week of treatment, the baby’s functions returned to normal. She and her mother have been given the all-clear from COVID-19, being eligible for hospital discharge.

Doctor Nguyen Dai Vinh, the Director of Hoa Vang District Medical Centre said, “Our decision to have an active surgery at that time was to ensure high safety for the woman and her baby. Our colleagues from the Da Nang Maternity and Pediatrics Hospital have supported us in terms of the provisions of surgical instruments and specialized care equipment. Thanks to that, the surgical intervention to deliver the baby was very successful.”

Reporting by LE HUNG – Translating by A.T