Delivery of fetus death with misoprostol in a pregnant woman with H7N9 avian influenza A virus pneumonia and ARDS

No abstract

Pregnant women are susceptible to severe pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) from influenza, which has been associated with increased fetal loss [1]. There is very little experience for the management of pregnant women with severe pneumonia and ARDS from avian influenza A (H7N9) virus, especially when complicated by intrauterine fetal death (IUFD).
A 28-year-old pregnant woman was admitted to the hospital due to dyspnea, dry cough, and fever. The patient was at 26 weeks gestation. Infection with influenza A (H7N9) virus was confirmed from a tracheal aspirate sample using polymerase chain reaction assays. The fetus was monitored daily to check the heart rate and on admission the fetal heart rate was 140 beats/minute. The patient's initial blood pressure was 70/45 mmHg, which was unresponsive to volume resuscitation. Norepinephrine was administrated to rescue septic shock and was required until day 11. On day 2, the beating of the fetal heart stopped as a result of severe, refractory hypoxemia (arterial oxygen pressure <50 mmHg, 24 hours). Echocardiography showed severe right ventricular dysfunction and severe left ventricular systolic dysfunction with decreased ejection fraction (26%). The renal function was slightly reduced with an elevated serum creatinine level (225 μmol/l).
Despite the administration of oseltamivir, the patient's condition progressed quickly. Thoracic imaging showing diffuse bilateral infiltrates along with evidence of impaired gas exchange led to the diagnosis of ARDS. Difficulties in oxygenation and a deteriorating medical condition resulted in incremental positive end-expiratory pressure titrations to a maximal value of 18 cmH 2 O and plateau pressure titrations to 40 cmH 2 O. During this course, the right ventricular systolic pressure was elevated to 52 mmHg on day 12.
Severe pneumonia, septic shock, acute renal failure, acute heart failure, pulmonary hypertension, and ARDS complicated with IUFD posed a complex dilemma. On day 13, application of 200 μg misoprostol in the posterior fornix of the vagina was used to induce delivery with an induction-to-termination interval of 11.5 hours. No retained placenta or membranes were detected. Oxytocin augmentation (intramuscular injection, 10 mg) was given to prevent bleeding. In this complicated situation, misoprostol appears to be a safe, effective, and practical method for termination of IUFD [2]. Moreover, the heart function, refractory hypoxemia, pulmonary hypertension, and immunological function improved quickly on the day after the successful delivery (Table 1). Despite intensive medical therapies, catheter-related bloodstream infection and ARDS was complicated by severe pulmonary hypertension and the patient expired on hospital day 29.
Delivery of the fetus following IUFD using misoprostol in multiple organ failure patients was associated with improved immunological function, oxygenation, and heart function in this patient. We cannot help but consider that this may have provided more benefit early in the patient's hospital course. Further studies may help identify the appropriate delivery time point and safety of this agent in IUFD women complicated with multiple organ failure.

Statement
The patient's husband provided the written informed consent for the publication in the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, and this would be available for review by the Editor-in-Chief.