Breathing Lessons:  A Case Study of Post-Partum Primary Pulmonary Hypertension

Primary pulmonary hypertension is a rare and under recognized condition with a poor and usually fatal prognosis (Siegel et al., 2007, p. 501).  This condition occurs mostly in women of child-bearing age between 20 and 40 years of age (American Heart Association 2007).  Although the cause or causes of primary pulmonary hypertension is unknown, the rarity and complexity of the disease makes it difficult to treat and places patients with a higher mortality risk at 30-56% (Siegel et al., 2007, p. 502).  This case study will focus on a the labor and delivery of an obstetrical patient with an unknown diagnosis of primary pulmonary hypertension.  Despite the life-saving efforts of the obstetrical and interdisciplinary teams, the discussion will review how current guidelines and treatments were not enough to rescue an obstetrical patient from an unavoidable and fatal outcome.