AI robot performs surgery to save pregnant woman who had a stroke due to preeclampsia

Quyen, 28, pregnant at 19 weeks, suffered a brain hemorrhagic stroke due to preeclampsia and was operated on by doctors using an AI robot to save both mother and fetus.

She had been receiving preventive treatment for preeclampsia since the 12th week of pregnancy. Nearly two months later, she suddenly experienced headaches, nausea, then collapsed, became paralyzed on her left side, and was semi-conscious. On July 24, Dr. Duong Pham Van Thanh from the Emergency Department at Tam Anh General Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City said that upon admission, the fetal heartbeat remained stable at 140 beats per minute, but the pregnant woman’s Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score was only 11/15 — a warning sign of serious central nervous system damage.

The hospital activated the emergency stroke treatment protocol "Code Stroke," prioritizing rapid intervention. Imaging results showed an intracerebral hemorrhage approximately 5x4x6 cm in size in the right cerebral hemisphere, located in the right occipital brain tissue. The hematoma was causing significant pressure and midline brain shift, indicating dangerously high intracranial pressure.

"This was a critical situation, posing a life-threatening risk to both mother and fetus," Dr. Thanh said. A multidisciplinary team of neurosurgeons, intensive care physicians, anesthesiologists, and obstetricians held a consultation to assess the risks and agreed to perform emergency stroke surgery using an AI-integrated robotic system, aiming to save both mother and fetus within the "golden hour."

Before surgery, the Modus V Synaptive robot used AI algorithms to create a 3D brain map, allowing doctors to clearly identify the boundary between the hematoma and surrounding healthy tissue. This enabled the surgical team to plan the optimal path to access the lesion while avoiding damage to brain areas responsible for motor and visual functions — particularly crucial for a pregnant patient.

CT scan results showed a large intracerebral hemorrhage in Ms. Quyên's brain. Image: Tâm Anh General Hospital

Master Doctor, Specialist Level II, Chu Tấn Sĩ — Head of the Neurosurgery Department, Neuroscience Center, Tâm Anh Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City — said that brain surgery on a pregnant woman is extremely complex, as it requires simultaneously controlling blood pressure, protecting the fetus, and ensuring maximum safety for the mother's brain. The surgical team had to carefully calculate and adjust the patient’s position specifically for pregnant women to avoid compressing the inferior vena cava and to ensure circulation for the fetus throughout the operation. Anesthetics, anticonvulsants, and medications to reduce intracranial pressure were carefully selected to minimize uterine contractions, placental ischemia, or fetal distress during surgery.

After nearly 90 minutes, the hematoma was completely removed, brain tissue was decompressed, and intracranial pressure significantly decreased. Two days post-surgery, Ms. Quyên regained consciousness well, her level of consciousness improved significantly, she was able to slightly move her left arm, and the fetal heart rate remained stable. A follow-up 1,975-slice CT scan confirmed effective brain decompression with no new bleeding detected. By the fifth day after surgery, the patient was recovering well, fully alert, with muscle strength in the left arm reaching 4/5 and left leg 2/5, showing early signs of regaining mobility.

Ms. Quyên continues with rehabilitation to stabilize her health. Doctors note that the fetus is moving regularly, and growth indicators — closely monitored — remain within normal limits.

Dr. Tấn Sĩ and the surgical team used an AI-assisted robot to remove the hemorrhage from Ms. Quyên. Photo: Tâm Anh General Hospital

Intracerebral hemorrhage is a rare but serious complication during pregnancy that can be fatal for both the mother and the fetus if not treated promptly. The highest risk typically occurs in the third trimester, with common causes including cerebral aneurysms, arteriovenous malformations, or pregnancy-related physiological disorders, among which preeclampsia is the leading cause.

Preeclampsia increases vascular resistance throughout the body, leading to high blood pressure, reduced cardiac output, and lower blood plasma volume. These changes disrupt cerebral perfusion, potentially resulting in brain edema and hemorrhage.

Nguyễn Thị Quý Khoa, MSc, MD, Deputy Head of the Obstetrics Department at the Tâm Anh General Hospital's Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology in Ho Chi Minh City, advises pregnant women—especially those with risk factors such as preeclampsia, hypertension, obesity, diabetes, blood clotting disorders, or a family history of stroke—to undergo regular check-ups at medical facilities with both obstetrics and neurology specialists to monitor and manage these risks.

If warning signs appear—such as severe or persistent headaches, visual disturbances (blurred or double vision), slurred speech, temporary loss of consciousness, vomiting, seizures, or paralysis on one side—patients should seek immediate care at a hospital equipped with advanced stroke emergency services to receive timely treatment.

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