HT Bureau
GUWAHATI, July 16: In a dramatic medical rescue, Peerless Hospital in Kolkata successfully saved the life of a 25-year-old woman who was brought to its emergency department in a critical condition due to a ruptured ectopic pregnancy.
According to an official statement, the woman had an alarmingly low haemoglobin level of 2.5 gm% and was in hypovolemic shock at the time of admission.
The patient, referred from another facility after her condition deteriorated, was experiencing severe respiratory distress and acute physiological stress.
She arrived at Peerless with a pulse rate over 150 beats per minute, a respiratory rate above 35, and blood pressure maintained at 100/60 only through intravenous support.
Clinical signs included extreme pallor, restlessness, and generalised swelling.
Doctors at Peerless initiated emergency resuscitation and oxygen therapy while conducting urgent investigations.
A history provided by the patient’s family revealed that she had taken over-the-counter abortifacient medication after a positive home pregnancy test.
Though initial bleeding had stopped, her health worsened rapidly over three days, prompting her referral.
An emergency ultrasound confirmed a ruptured ectopic pregnancy with hemoperitoneum—internal bleeding in the abdomen.
A surgical team led by Dr Soumitra Kumar, Senior Consultant in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, conducted a life-saving operation under general anaesthesia.
Approximately one litre of blood was evacuated from the abdominal cavity.
The team performed a right salpingectomy, removed a haemorrhagic corpus luteal cyst, and conducted extensive peritoneal cleaning to arrest further bleeding.
Following surgery, the patient was shifted to the Intensive Therapy Unit, where she received multiple transfusions—five units of Packed Red Blood Cells, four units of Fresh Frozen Plasma, and four units of platelets.
She was extubated the next day and gradually recovered. By the time of discharge, her haemoglobin had risen to 10.4 gm/dl and her condition was declared stable.
Dr Kumar described the case as one of the most critical the hospital had seen in recent times.
“The swift diagnosis, readiness of our surgical and ICU teams, and the patient’s willpower were key to saving her life,” he said.
He also issued a strong caution against unsupervised use of abortion pills.
“Self-medication with abortifacients can be life-threatening,” he added, “Such drugs must be used only under qualified medical supervision, especially since complications like ectopic pregnancies can go unnoticed without proper diagnosis.”
The hospital stated that the case underscored the importance of timely intervention and the dangers of unregulated medication use.
Peerless Hospital reiterated its commitment to high-quality emergency care, clinical expertise, and patient safety.