title: Amniotic fluid embolism--2 case reports and a review of maternal deaths from this cause in Australia.
abstract: Amniotic fluid embolism (AFE) is a dramatic, rare and frequently lethal complication of pregnancy. Perusal of the National Health and Medical Research Council reports on Maternal Deaths in the Commonwealth of Australia for the years 1964-1984 (1-7) shows that there have been 1,193 maternal deaths in this 21-year period, of which 54 (4.5%) were due to AFE. This paper presents data regarding these deaths and also describes 2 cases of AFE which occurred at Caesarean section performed for placenta praevia, one of which was lethal.
authors.affiliation: Royal Women's Hospital, Melbourne.
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Ratten
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia; D002585:Cesarean Section; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004619:Embolism, Amniotic Fluid / Q000401:mortality*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007744:Obstetric Labor Complications / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000401:mortality*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012307:Risk Factors