title: Perimortem caesarean section.
abstract: Perimortem caesarean section (PCS) is a rare event often resulting in high mortality of mother and/or fetus. It represents a tragedy for the mother and the family and a crisis for the healthcare professionals managing such a case. This paper seeks to raise awareness of the pertinent issues surrounding PCS and challenges care providers to put in place procedures to deal with this catastrophic event. It also reviews the historical perspective of PCS, maternal physiology during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), prognostic factors for maternal and fetal wellbeing, techniques of PCS, survival for mother and baby and the medico legal aspects of PCS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, South Tyneside Hospital, South Shields, UK. qwarraich@btinternet.com
authors.forename: Q
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Warraich
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Esen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016887:Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation; D002585:Cesarean Section; D005260:Female; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000502:physiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011249:Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery* / Q000628:therapy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011379:Prognosis; D013997:Time Factors