title: Perimortem caesarean section.
abstract: This review describes a simple approach to perimortem caesarean section (PMCS) that can be used by a doctor in the resuscitation room or prehospital environment when faced with a mother of more than 20 weeks gestation in cardiac arrest. It explores the indications for and contraindications to the procedure, the physiological rationale behind it, equipment needed, technical aspects of the procedure and reviews recent literature on maternal and fetal outcomes. Like other uncommon procedures such as emergency department thoracotomy, rehearsal and preparation for a PMCS is essential to give both mother and baby the best chance of survival.
authors.affiliation: Emergency Department, Derriford Hospital, Plymouth, UK.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4572-4849
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Parry
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Derriford Hospital, Plymouth, UK.
authors.forename: Tilo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Asmussen
authors.affiliation: Emergency Department, Derriford Hospital, Plymouth, UK Academic Department of Military Emergency Medicine, Royal Centre for Defence Medicine (Research & Academia), Medical Directorate, Birmingham, UK.
authors.forename: Jason E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D016887:Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation / Q000379:methods*; D002585:Cesarean Section / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011247:Pregnancy
keywords: cardiac arrest; clincial management; emergency department; obstetrics and gynaecology; resuscitation