Chonnam National University Hospital Successfully Completes Delivery Surgery for COVID-19 Positive Mother

The First Case in Honam Region

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] Jeonnam National University Hospital (Director Lee Sam-yong) has successfully completed a delivery surgery for a COVID-19 positive pregnant woman for the first time in the Honam region.

According to Jeonnam National University Hospital on the 7th, a woman in her 30s, Ms. A, who was admitted after testing positive for COVID-19 on the 5th, underwent an emergency cesarean section and gave birth to a healthy 2.6 kg baby boy in just over two hours.

The mother is currently being treated in a negative pressure isolation room as her COVID-19 symptoms have eased, and the newborn tested negative in the first COVID-19 test conducted immediately after birth and is receiving pediatric care in a separate negative pressure isolation room.

Ms. A had a sore throat and fever starting from the 27th of last month at 37 weeks of pregnancy, visited Jeonnam National University Hospital, and was tested at the screening clinic. After testing positive, she was admitted to a nationally designated negative pressure isolation ward for treatment.

Labor pains began three days earlier than the scheduled surgery date (the 8th), and she was transferred to a separate operating room prepared for COVID-19 positive patients to undergo surgery.

This is the first case in the Honam region where a COVID-19 positive pregnant woman has undergone a cesarean section since the outbreak began.

Above all, this surgery is considered an excellent case achieved through systematic collaboration among related medical staff, including the Infection Control Office, the nationally designated inpatient treatment ward, Infectious Diseases, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pediatrics, Anesthesiology, Operating Room, and Delivery Room, following strict infection control guidelines.

Since Ms. A's admission, the related medical staff maintained a separate communication system, fully preparing for any emergency situations and the surgery itself. This collaborative system allowed the emergency surgery to be completed smoothly without confusion.

To prevent infection, only the minimum necessary medical staff participated in the operating room, while the rest observed from outside, prepared for any unforeseen circumstances.

Delivery surgery for COVID-19 positive patients is more complicated than usual surgeries because of the high risk of infection to medical staff and newborns, and the medical staff must wear Level D protective suits.

Professor Kim Jong-woon of Obstetrics and Gynecology, who performed the surgery, said, “Wearing protective suits and double gloves made the procedure more awkward and uncomfortable than usual surgeries, but it did not interfere with the operation. Above all, because there was sufficient preparation in advance for this patient, the surgery was completed without difficulty.”

Professor Park Kyung-hwa of Infectious Diseases, who oversaw the entire process from admission to surgery, stated, “Based on two previous surgeries on suspected patients since the COVID-19 outbreak, we were able to establish a systematic collaborative system. The smooth cooperation of skilled and experienced medical staff made this surgery successful, and fortunately, both the mother and newborn will be discharged soon.”

Meanwhile, after the surgery, the medical staff shared videos and photos of the baby with Ms. A and her husband, who is also hospitalized with COVID-19, helping to ease their anxiety.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.