One life or two

Ms Erica Wilson1

1RFDS WA, South Hedland, Australia

A case study of a relatively unique situation nowadays.  The retrieval and transport of a woman pregnant with her sixth baby, needing ICU admission, for her, after the birth by LSCS, and her refusing to go to the nearest tertiary hospital which was (door to door) five hours away.

There are so many aspects of this case which could be discussed at length.  Of particular interest is how and why does one meet the cultural needs of an Indigenous Australian woman in remote outback Australia while providing appropriate midwifery and aeromedical care for her.

Although she was not critically ill during transfer the potential for the birth of the baby in flight was real and would have posed a significant problem for all of us.  We were not able to use the usual tocolytic agents to slow/arrest labour due to her significant valvular cardiac disease so had to think outside the square.  We also had to be prepared to catch and care for the baby as well as care for a (potentially) critically ill woman while ensuring the safety of the aircraft i.e. not allowing any body fluid spills to get away on us.

So, while considering the dynamic cardiovascular system intra/postpartum and the aeromedical aspects how did we care for her in her situation?  Why was it so difficult to do?  What did we do and how well did we meet her cultural, emotional and social needs?


Biography:

Erica Wilson, Senior Flight Nurse from Port Hedland, WA – a dry and arid, remote work environment.