Cardiopulmonary arrest in pregnancy: the role of caesarean section in the resuscitative protocol.
A 36-year-old black multipara at 32 weeks gestation was referred with apparent peripartal cardiomyopathy. Upon arrival, she was found to be in pulmonary edema; and shortly thereafter developed cardiopulmonary arrest. She failed to respond to initial attempts at cardiopulmonary resuscitation but subsequently responded after Caesarean section and pericardiocentesis. This case exemplifies the unique aspects of performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation on a gravid female in the latter part of pregnancy and that Caesarean section should be considered an integral part of the resuscitative protocol when standard protocols fail.
Cordero
D R
DR
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, West Virginia University, Morgantown.
Toffle
R C
RC
McCauley
C S
CS
D000328:Adult; D002585:Cesarean Section; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011247:Pregnancy; D011249:Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular / Q000628:therapy*; D012151:Resuscitation