Prone-Position Ventilation in a Pregnant Woman with Severe COVID-19 Infection Associated with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome

Authors

1 Chronic Respiratory Diseases Research Center, National Research Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (NRITLD), Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran,

2 Department of Cardiology, Shahid Taleghani Teaching Hospital, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran,

3 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Vasei Hospital, Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences, Sabzevar, Iran,

4 Department of Anesthesiology, Vasei Hospital, Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences, Sabzevar, Iran,

5 Department of Internal Medicine, Infectious Diseases Ward, Vasei Hospital, Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences, Sabzevar, Iran,

6 Department of Internal Medicine, Pulmonology and Respiratory Medicine Ward, Vasei Hospital, Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences, Sabzevar, Iran

Abstract

A 25-year-old pregnant woman (gestational age: 24 weeks) presented with severe coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) infection. Deterioration of her respiratory status resulted in her admission to the intensive care unit and mechanical ventilator support. Considering the lack of improvement in oxygen saturation, teleconsultation was performed, suggesting prone-position ventilation (PPV). Significant improvements were observed in oxygen saturation. The patient was extubated after five days of intermittent PPV and supine-position ventilation and was discharged 20 days after admission. Also, assessments revealed that the fetus was unharmed by the intervention. We suggest considering PPV for pregnant women with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).

Keywords