title: Early application of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in a patient with amniotic fluid embolism.
abstract: Amniotic fluid embolism occurs rarely but is a leading cause of maternal mortality. Regardless of emergent supportive medical treatment, it is associated with a very high mortality rate. Here, we present the case of a 33-year-old pregnant woman with amniotic fluid embolism, who sustained cardiac arrest and was rescued with early application of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. The management of amniotic fluid embolism is to initially focus on rapid cardiopulmonary stabilization. Hemodynamic decompensation may be transient and recoverable within a few hours. Early application of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation should be considered in patients who are unresponsive to medical therapy before severe organ damage supervenes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesia, Pain Management and Critical Care Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan, R.O.C.
authors.forename: Chang-Hsun
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.forename: Kuen-Bao
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Shih-Kai
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Yu-Fang
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Hung-Chun
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Rick Sai-Chuen
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004619:Embolism, Amniotic Fluid / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D015199:Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation; D005260:Female; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy