title: Intrauterine air embolism associated with a rectovaginal fistula in a pregnant woman.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Previous case reports have reported maternal and fetal mortality in pregnancies complicated by air emboli induced by various mechanisms.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 33-year-old multiparous woman with a known rectovaginal fistula presented with symptoms of placental abruption. She subsequently was found to have a large intrauterine air embolus. The patient was treated successfully to term by continuously draining the vaginal air with a Malecot catheter.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We describe a rare case of an intrauterine air embolism during pregnancy caused by a rectovaginal fistula. Prompt recognition of air within the uterine myometrium and subchorionic space during ultrasonography led to the diagnosis and successful treatment of a potentially fatal complication by using an intravaginal Malecot catheter to release the trapped air.
authors.affiliation: From the Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Radiology, the University of Washington, Seattle, Washington.
authors.forename: Kara K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Hoppe
authors.forename: Michael F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Fialkow
authors.forename: Manjiri
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dighe
authors.forename: Edith
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cheng
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D057785:Catheters; D002585:Cesarean Section; D004618:Embolism, Air / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D012006:Rectovaginal Fistula / Q000150:complications*; D016896:Treatment Outcome