title: Cord entanglement causing premature placental separation and amniotic fluid embolism. Case report.
abstract: A woman died undelivered of amniotic fluid embolism. Postmortem examination showed that cord entanglement had caused premature placental separation with a marginal tear of the membranes and so opened a route of entry for amniotic fluid into the subplacental maternal venous sinuses. It is suggested that premature separation of the normally implanted placenta, associated with macro- or microscopic tears of or damage to the fetal membranes, provides a route of entry for amniotic fluid through the placental site in approximately one half of the fatal cases of amniotic fluid embolism.
mesh_terms: D000037:Abruptio Placentae / Q000209:etiology*; D000328:Adult; D004619:Embolism, Amniotic Fluid / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005322:Premature Rupture of Fetal Membranes / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D014470:Umbilical Cord