ELECTIVE CAESAREAN DELIVERY IN A PATIENT WITH CONFIRMED COVID-19: CASE REPORT

Abstract

Introduction: In December, 2019, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute  respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) emerged in Wuhan, China and has spread to Kenya  with the first case being confirmed on 13th March 20201. By the end of June 2020, there were about 6000  confirmed cases in Kenya, with 143 deaths1. Currently, there are no statistics regarding pregnant women  infected with COVID-19. Standard policies and precautions for facilities and personnel to safely care for  COVID-19 patients as outlined in CDC and WHO guidelines have been adopted locally2,3. The facilities  have also formulated creation of standard operating procedures to manage these patients e.g. operating  separate labor and delivery units for COVID-positive patients and limiting the number of people in the  delivery room, increased communication between neonatal and obstetric teams, limiting staff exposure and  staff training on personal protective equipment procedures3. 

Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral and Research Hospital (KUTRRH) has been identified as one of the  facilities designated for managing COVID-19 cases in Kenya (Figure 1). KUTRRH, established in 2019  is the third National Referral Hospital in Kenya with a 650 bed capacity and equipped with state-of-art  medical amenities including eight negative pressure theatres, 24 bed capacity ICU and 12 bed HDU with a  designated COVID 19 theatre4. Staff in all areas have been trained about the use of PPE and correct donning  and doffing techniques. In order to minimize staff exposure, and therefore infection, only essential staff are  present in the delivery rooms and theatres (Figures 2-5).