Cardiopulmonary arrest in pregnancy: two case reports of successful outcomes in association with perimortem Caesarean delivery.
Cardiac arrest in pregnancy is a rare event in which the speed of the response and attention to a number of pregnancy-specific interventions is crucial to the outcome. The commencement of a perimortem Caesarean delivery within 4 min of the onset of the arrest has been recommended as a technique to potentially improve survival in both the mother and the fetus but presents significant logistical challenges to the health-care facility. In this report, we describe two cases of cardiac arrest in pregnancy in which a perimortem Caesarean was performed as part of the resuscitation process and was associated with excellent maternal and neonatal outcomes. We discuss some of the issues surrounding the performance of a perimortem Caesarean delivery that were relevant to this case, including experience from the training that is provided in our institution.
McDonnell
N J
NJ
Department of Anaesthesia and Pain Medicine, King Edward Memorial Hospital for Women, 374 Bagot Road, Subiaco, Western Australia 6008, Australia. nolan.mcdonnell@health.wa.gov.au
D000328:Adult; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000009:adverse effects; D001034:Apgar Score; D002585:Cesarean Section; D005260:Female; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008278:Magnesium Sulfate / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011249:Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000601:surgery*; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome
D000927:Anticonvulsants; D008278:Magnesium Sulfate