Perimortem caesarean section: A review of the anaesthetist's nightmare

Cardiac arrest in pregnancy is a rare but catastrophic obstetric emergency, with a quoted incidence of 1:20,000 pregnancies. Speedy multidisciplinary interventions are crucial for good maternal and foetal outcomes. A perimortem caesarean section (PMCS) initiated within 4 min of onset of cardiac arrest to minimise the effect of aortocaval compression on cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) has been recommended as a key intervention, which is likely to improve survival of both mother and foetus. Sudden collapse is uncommon in pregnant women and their management is more challenging than in a non-pregnant patient. This article aims to emphasise the significance of early identification and management of impending or established maternal cardiac arrest. We propose that a focus on effective and good-quality CPR, utilising key interventions such as early airway control, left uterine displacement and a timely decision for a PMCS with multidisciplinary input is more likely to result in good maternal and foetal survival and neurological outcomes. We also discuss the role of 'fire drill' obstetric training for key staff and the use of a dedicated hospital-wide resuscitation code for managing collapse in obstetric patients in improving survival and outcomes. We present four cases of maternal cardiac arrest managed with PMCS in our hospital, highlighting the evolution in management and with improved outcomes following changes to our resuscitation guidelines, training and workflows.

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Editorial

Chhabra¹

2013

Trends in Anaesthesia and Critical Care

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Perimortem caesarean section: A review of the anaesthetist's nightmare

Cited by 3 publications

References 29 publications

Trauma in the Pregnant Patient

Trauma in the Pregnant Patient

Impact of ‘fire drill’ training and dedicated obstetric resuscitation code in improving fetomaternal outcome following cardiac arrest in a tertiary referral hospital setting in Singapore

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