title: [Amniotic fluid embolism: a review].
abstract: Amniotic fluid embolism occurs rarely but is a leading cause of maternal mortality. It is a difficult and somewhat intangible diagnosis that warrants a high index of suspicion by physicians. AFE is an unpredictable, unpreventable, and, for the most part, an untreatable obstetric emergency. Management of this condition includes prompt recognition of the signs and symptoms, aggressive resuscitation efforts, and supportive therapy. Any delays in diagnosis and treatment can result in increased maternal and/or foetal impairment or death. Whereas once the invariable outcome of AFE was death of the mother, today the prognosis is somewhat brighter thanks to increased awareness of the syndrome and advances in intensive care medicine. No laboratory test is specific to attest the diagnosis and autopsy must to be realised in case of maternal death. Although non-specific, the diagnosis of AFE could be supported by the observation of amniotic fluid in the central venous blood as well as in the bronchoalveolar fluid. This easy and quick test will be helpful in decision-making. Prompt and aggressive supportive treatment is required to lessen an otherwise dismal outcome, which may include death and permanent disability. This article provides an account of the protean clinical features, pathogenesis, and principles involved in treatment.
authors.affiliation: Département d'Anesthésie-Réanimation, Hôpital de la Croix-Rousse, 103 Grande rue de la Croix-Rousse, 69317 Lyon cedex 04, France. gerard.tramoni@chu-lyon.fr
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tramoni
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Boisson
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gamerre
authors.forename: H-J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Clement
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bon
authors.forename: R-C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Rudigoz
authors.forename: J-P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Viale
mesh_terms: D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000737:chemistry; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000737:chemistry; D002423:Cause of Death; D003422:Critical Care; D004619:Embolism, Amniotic Fluid / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011379:Prognosis; D012151:Resuscitation