Unrecognised Trauma due to Resuscitation in a Pregnant Woman

A 26 year old second para that underwent resuscitation and emergency LSCS at 30 weeks of gestation following convulsions was referred to us after 36 hours of delivery. At admission she was in Glasgow coma scale E1VTM1 and ventilator support was continued and hypernatremia which was detected at admission was corrected. She had cerebral oedema on CT and subcutaneous emphysema of neck and upper chest and massive pneumothorax which was detected after 12-24 hours of transfer to our Institute. She also had right Vocal cord palsy and all these were attributed to the complications of CPR. She was managed with anti-oedema measures and ICD She required prolonged ventilation, underwent tracheostomy and finally decanulated on 23rd day of admission and discharged after 35 days of hospitalization. The diagnosis of post cardiac arrest syndrome was complicated because of her initial history of high grade fever and chills, vomiting and head ache convulsions and also possible diagnosis of eclampsia. It is essential to diagnose and manage the complications arising out of resuscitation so as to increase the chances of survival though the complications cannot be avoided at times. An undetected injury can be life threatening.