The Da Nang-based Family Hospital on Tuesday said that its staff had performed successful cesarean section in a pregnant woman with Hellp syndrome.

HELLP syndrome, named for 3 features of the disease (hemolysis, elevated liver enzyme levels, and low platelet levels), is a life-threatening condition that can potentially complicate pregnancy.

A 38 year- old pregnant woman was undergoing a second pregnancy but had a history of hepatitis B infection with elevated abnormal liver enzymes. She went into the Family Hospital for her swollen legs and she found it very hard to walk. The hospital’s doctors used paraclinical methods for diagnosis of chronic hepatitis B and gestational diabetes in this woman that have been developed during her pregnancy.

She was treated with insulin and hepatoprotective drugs for diabetes and chronic hepatitis B. However, At 36 weeks pregnant, the woman got HELLP syndrome which can quickly become life-threatening for both her and the baby.

Therefore, the Family Hospital’s doctors performed an emergency cesarean section in this do conducted an emergency cesarean section in this pregnant woman.

The woman had twin girls born at 2.5 and 2.1 kg each following cesarean section at this hospital. Her twins were found to be healthy.  The 38 year- old and her newborns were discharged after five days in hospital.

Dr. Nguyen Thi Thanh Loan, the Head of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of the Family Hospital said that HELLP syndrome occurs in 0.5–0.9% of all pregnancies and in 10–20% of women who have severe preeclampsia. HELLP syndrome is a rare but life-threatening pregnancy complication. HELLP syndrome typically occurs between week 27 of gestation and delivery, or immediately postpartum in 15%-30% of cases.

Reporting by LE HUNG – translating by H.L