Cardiac Arrest and Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy Following an Emergency Caesarean Section in a COVID-19 Patient

While young, healthy individuals without underlying medical conditions have generally not suffered catastrophic health consequences from the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), gravid patients appear to be at much higher risk of complications from this virus. A 29-year-old G3P2 patient at 30 weeks and three days presented with worsening dyspnea and chest pain after testing positive for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection two days prior. Notably, she had not received COVID-19 vaccination. A non-reassuring fetal tracing and fetal bradycardia were discovered on routine prenatal monitoring during admission, and an urgent caesarean section was performed. She subsequently required supplemental oxygen due to respiratory distress and remained hospitalized. She clinically deteriorated from a respiratory standpoint. Several days later, she experienced cardiac arrest with a return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) in nine minutes. While the baby was discharged home and is doing well, the patient, unfortunately, expired from hypoxic encephalopathy secondary to COVID-19 pneumonia and complications of cardiorespiratory arrest. This case highlights the severe sequelae of COVID-19 infection in a postpartum patient, including ventilator-dependent respiratory failure, sudden cardiac death, hypoxic encephalopathy, and coma.