A baby was delivered by emergency cesarean at the Local Health Unit of Amadora/Sintra and passed away this morning, a day after the death of the mother, who was admitted to the hospital early Friday morning already in cardiac arrest. The 36-year-old mother, who was 38 weeks pregnant, had attended a routine consultation on Wednesday, after which she was sent home.
In a statement, the Ministry of Health expressed its “profound sorrow” over the baby’s death, explaining that “the child could not survive the injuries sustained after the mother experienced cardiac arrest at her home.”
“The Minister of Health extends sincere condolences to the family and friends of the deceased woman and her baby, sharing the grief over this tragedy,” added the office of Ana Paula Martins.
The Health Regulatory Entity and the General Inspection of Health Activities (IGA) are set to investigate the two deaths, and the Amadora Sintra Hospital has also initiated a process to “investigate the circumstances surrounding the unfortunate outcome,” according to the Ministry of Health’s press office.
The Local Health Unit of Amadora/Sintra also expressed its sorrow over the death of the baby, who “since birth was in a deep coma without any neurological reflex, and this morning showed signs of progressive hypotension and bradycardia, which resulted in death.”
According to the ULS Amadora-Sintra, the pregnant woman had visited the hospital on Wednesday for a routine check-up, during which mild hypertension was noted.
The woman was sent to the emergency “out of extra caution,” where she was diagnosed with pre-eclampsia, but was discharged with instructions for admission at 39 weeks of pregnancy.
Diogo Bruno, director of the obstetrics and gynecology emergency service at Amadora-Sintra Hospital, noted that the woman had recently arrived in Portugal and was referred to the obstetric specialty consultation with an early-term pregnancy.
“The pregnancy follow-up was not ideal. She did have a vague history of hypertension. Indeed, during the consultation, her blood pressure was slightly elevated,” reiterated Diogo Bruno.
The ULS Amadora-Sintra reported that the pregnant woman was admitted to emergency services around 01:50 on Friday, transported by a team from the National Institute of Emergency Medical Assistance (INEM), in cardiac arrest.
The Urgent Patients Guidance Center (CODU) received a call at 00:28 requesting help for the pregnant woman, who complained of shortness of breath, explained INEM. After clinical triage, “CODU dispatched a Rescue Ambulance at 00:36.”
Furthermore, according to INEM, the ambulance team informed CODU at 00:54 that the victim was in cardiac arrest, triggering the dispatch of a Medical Emergency and Resuscitation Vehicle (VMER) from Amadora-Sintra Hospital.
“At 1:14, on site, the VMER medical team implemented appropriate Advanced Life Support (ALS) measures. The patient was then transported to HFF, with medical accompaniment from the VMER team, arriving at 1:48,” detailed the INEM.
