A case of a pregnant patient with COVID‐19 infection treated with emergency c‐section and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation

Rushakoff, Joshua A.; Polyak, Alexander; Caron, Jayne; Parrinella, Kristin; Salabat, Reza; Wong, Melissa; Emerson, Dominic

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) causes the development of severe acute respiratory distress syndrome. Pregnant women may be at increased risk for the development of severe disease. We present the case of a pregnant patient who developed respiratory failure due to COVID‐19 and rapidly decompensated requiring intubation. Despite mechanical ventilation, the patient's respiratory status continued to worsen. At bedside, cardiothoracic surgeons, obstetricians, intensivists, and neonatologists discussed balancing the risk of COVID‐19 and respiratory failure to the patient, premature delivery to the neonate, potential coagulopathy associated with COVID‐19, and the need for anticoagulation with mechanical circulatory support. Ultimately, the decision was to proceed with emergency cesarean section delivery in the intensive care unit followed by peri‐partum veno‐venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation initiation. The patient and neonate were both discharged home in stable condition.