Emergency Surgery at Texas Health Fort Worth Saves Young Mother, Baby After Aortic Dissection

FORT WORTH, Texas- As a new mom, 27-year-old Madelyn Campbell is cherishing the simple joy of playing guitar and singing to her daughter, Navy, after an aortic dissection could have ended both of their lives if not for the quick, coordinated care Campbell received at Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth.

A cardiologist has monitored her heart function since high school due to having MASS phenotype, which is a connective tissue disorder. During Campbell's first trimester, her cardiologist diagnosed her with Marfan syndrome and told Campbell her pregnancy put her at an even higher risk, including an aortic dissection.

Knowing she had a high-risk pregnancy, her care team advised her to seek immediate medical attention if needed at Texas Health Fort Worth, a Level I Trauma Center and Comprehensive Cardiac Center.

Unfortunately, that day came on Sept. 4, when Campbell was just 35 weeks pregnant.

"I remember going to bed, and rolling over to get comfortable, when I felt a pop in my chest," said Campbell. "I kind of knew what that meant but I hoped it was just terrible heartburn."

As directed by her care team, Campbell headed to Texas Health Fort Worth's Emergency Department.

The call

Joseph Fitzwater, M.D., FACOG, was at home when he received a call from the Emergency Department.

"I received a second call after a CT scan detected the aortic dissection," said Fitzwater, a maternal fetal medicine physician on the medical staff. "I rushed to the hospital, sprinting from my car to the emergency room, worried she could go into cardiac arrest at delivery."

Minutes later, Fitzwater was on the phone with Donnell Bowen, D.O., FACS, a cardiothoracic surgeon on the Texas Health Fort Worth medical staff, planning how to save Campbell and her unborn daughter.

During the next 12 hours, the medical team performed two emergency surgeries: a cesarean section to deliver the baby, followed by an aortic valve-sparing root replacement, which is a complex procedure to repair the torn artery. The patient's aortic valve remains untouched. Bowen said the procedure is often recommended for young, otherwise healthy individuals.

"Never have I heard a newborn crying in the corner while I'm mentally preparing to perform complex heart surgery on the baby's mother in the same operating room," said Bowen, who is also a member of Texas Health Physicians Group*.

The right place to be

"This case emphasizes the importance of advanced multidisciplinary care," said Fitzwater. "Everyone in the operating room had a role to play."

Campbell's care team included adult congenital cardiology, neonatology, cardiothoracic surgery, cardiac anesthesia, maternal-fetal medicine, emergency physicians and ancillary care team members.

"Every doctor, every nurse, every housekeeping person made me feel comfortable," Campbell said. "We've been through so much, but the team I had was amazing."

Jared Shelton, FACHE, Texas Health Fort Worth president, said it requires commitment and dedication from everyone to meet the needs of patients and their families.

"When such an expansive care team collaborates to save the life of a mother and her newborn, it exemplifies their selfless spirit," Shelton said. "I'm humbled and honored to witness such amazing individuals bringing their expertise and caring to North Texans every day."

Born weighing just 5 pounds, 1 ounce, Navy needed a short stay in the hospital's Level III neonatal intensive care unit. After a week in the hospital, Campbell returned home, and Navy joined the family two days later.

"The fact that she's here and perfectly healthy, Navy is my motivator," Campbell said. "She's pretty small, but she's our little peanut. Thankfully everything happened when I was 35 weeks. If it happened earlier, it could have been a different story."

*Physicians employed by Texas Health Physicians Group practice independently and are not employees or agents of Texas Health Resources hospitals.