Kansas City, Kan- Key points from today’s guests:

Dr. Shawn Sood, pediatric critical care medicine, The University of Kansas Health System

• RSV exposure during pregnancy does not increase the risk of asthma in the fetus, but can lead to pregnancy-related complications like pre-term delivery.
• RSV exposure in early childhood can increase the risk of developing asthma later in life.
• Research shows that about 15 percent of asthmatics in the U.S. could be prevented if they weren’t exposed to RSV during early childhood.
• The RSV vaccine is effective in protecting babies from severe RSV disease.
• The vaccine can reduce the risk of hospitalization by more than 57 percent in the first six week and severe RSV disease by 82 percent within three months after birth.
• Peak RSV season is December through February, and vaccination is recommend for adults over 60, infants, and pregnant women between 32 and 36 weeks. It is important to discuss with your doctor.

Veronica Rodriguez-Mendez, peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) patient

• Veronica was feeling symptoms of fatigue and feeling like she was drowning when she was pregnant.
• She was rushed to The University of Kansas Health System and at 33 weeks, Veronica was experiencing pregnancy-induced heart failure.
• She had no prior history of heart problems.
• Doctors performed an emergency C-section in the cardiothoracic surgery unit to save the lives of Veronica and the baby.
• Both mom and baby Liliana are doing great today.
• For a few months following the C-section, Veronica had to wear a “life vest”, which was an external defibrillator. She now has an internal defibrillator.
• Her entire care team included women of color and she found that to be helpful because she felt “seen.”

Dr. Paola Roldan, heart failure and transplantation cardiologist, The University of Kansas Health System

• We were in a situation where we wanted to take care of mom and baby and so the best decision was to proceed with a more urgent C-section so we could take care of the baby while putting Veronica on needed medications.
• The exact reasons for a condition like this are not well understood, but risk factors include dopamine release and perhaps the fetus is secreting a peptide that could affect the heart. We’re still learning so much about this disease process.
• It is a complete privilege to take care of patients like Veronica and I am extremely passionate about patient care.
• We have a huge patient heart team, and our goal is to connect with patients in a way that makes them feel safer and more comfortable.
• We know that mortality rates and complication rates with pregnancy is much higher in the U.S. than they should be, so we need to build teams that can take care of patients like Veronica.
• It is important to have regular check-ups with your doctor when pregnant, especially for those with Black, Native American, or Hispanic ethnicities, because they may be more prone to more risk factors.

Friday, Sept. 13 at 8 a.m. is the next Morning Medical Update. Diagnosed with breast and ovarian cancer at the height of the COVID pandemic, see how one grandmother fought through it all.

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