Healthy Baby Delivery After 100 Days of Somatic Support in a Brain-Dead Pregnant Woman.

Abstract

After diagnosing brain death, with few exceptions, it is unethical to maintain organ support. This decision may be considered in case of pregnancy to guarantee foetal viability and improve the perinatal outcome. We describe a case of prolonged organ support after brain death in a pregnant woman, following cardiac arrest secondary to an acute asthma attack. A 26-year-old primigravida, 18 weeks pregnant, with a history of stable asthma, was admitted to an ICU after cardiac arrest secondary to an acute asthma attack. It was possible to maintain organ support for 100 days with the collaboration of a multidisciplinary medical team. A healthy child was born, and favourable outcomes were observed at the 3-year follow-up. Brain death during pregnancy is a rare event and is a unique ethical, financial, and technical challenge. No guidelines are available for the management of these patients. This case demonstrates that it is possible to prolong organ support in this situation and successfully deliver a healthy child.