Pluymakers C, De Weerdt A, Jacquemyn Y, Colpaert C, Van de Poel E, Jorens PG. Amniotic fluid embolism after surgical trauma: two case reports and review of the literature.
Resuscitation 2006;
72:324-32. [PMID:
17116356 DOI:
10.1016/j.resuscitation.2006.06.037]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2006] [Revised: 06/30/2006] [Accepted: 06/30/2006] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Amniotic fluid embolism (AFE) is a relatively rare condition usually occurring during or shortly after pregnancy and is catastrophic in most cases. The classical description is a sudden onset of dyspnoea, cyanosis and hypotension out of proportion to the blood loss, followed quickly by cardiorespiratory arrest. Up to 20% of patients will have seizures and up to 40% will have consumptive coagulopathy. If the patient survives the initial phase, a non-cardiogenic pulmonary oedema will follow in up to 70% of all cases. We report on two cases of severe and near fatal amniotic fluid embolism during pregnancy. Surgical trauma, caused by a blow in the stomach and a surgical intervention, was considered to be the aetiology.
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