Kolkata: The state-run medical colleges in Kolkata have been reporting frequent incidents of kidney injury during pregnancy in the past two months. Sources said this is contributing to maternal deaths. There have been several rounds of meetings between the medical colleges and health officials at Swasthya Bhawan to find the cause and solution, and hospitals are holding internal meetings in search of an answer.
Health department sources said many were developing renal failure post C-section and some were succumbing to it.Called pregnancy-related acute kidney injury (PRAKI), doctors said many women who developed it don’t even fall in the vulnerable category. “While our doctors have been able to save a few, we have lost some to acute renal failure post childbirth. We are trying to find out the root cause and its solution,” said a health official.
Medical colleges in the city said many of the cases are referred from the districts. While these referrals happened round the year, the number of acute kidney injury cases were far and few earlier. “We are searching for the reason why there is a sudden surge in the number of these cases,” said gynaecology professor Pranab Biswas, department head at Calcutta National Medical College.
According to experts, improved antenatal and postnatal care has decreased PRAKI incidence significantly over the past few decades. It used to be a major cause of maternal and newborn death earlier.
“Condition like postpartum haemorrhage and acute anaemia used to be the main cause of maternal deaths. But now, due to better availability of blood, good drugs and better care, such deaths have come down. Now there is a concerning spike in PRAKI cases. When the woman is given spinal anaesthesia, the fluid maintenance is not taken care of and it can affect the kidney,” said gynaecology professor Ramprasad Dey of Medical College Hospital Kolkata.
Gynaecology professor Subhas Biswas, department head at IPGMER, said while most cases in SSKM are referred, they are also detecting a few cases among the hospital itself. “We have had consultations with Swasthya Bhawan and are still trying to address this issue. PRAKI has a high mortality rate,” Biswas said.
Health officials said a significant number of cases are also being reported from RG Kar, NRS Medical College and other govt health units that have childbirth facilities.