Hyperemesis gravidarum can be a nightmare to an obstetrician but rarely is it life threatening. One such case is described below. A 22-year-old lady, 3 months pregnant and have had one child before, was referred from another hospital because they did not have a medical ICU. Reason: The lady had hyperemesis for 8 days. As she used to have similar episodes in the past, relatives ignored it and when they reached the first hospital, she was in circulatory collapse, which they managed.
On admission, she was breathless, but the pulse was 100/ minute and BP was 120/80mmHg, which meant she was in a state of normal haemodynamics, but the respiratory rate increased due to anxiety. She had come at midnight. She was put on IV drips, pantoprazole and odandesterone, routine treatment for hyperemesis. She was also put on methylprednisone, 16mg 8 hourly, to cover any addisonian crisis, which sometimes…
