Amniotic fluid embolism--2 case reports and a review of maternal deaths from this cause in Australia
Ratten, G.J.
Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology 28(1): 33-35
1988
ISSN/ISBN: 0004-8666 PMID: 3063248 Document Number: 362338
Amniotic fluid embolism (AFE) is a dramatic, rare and frequently lethal complication of pregnancy. Perusal of the National Health and Medical Research Council reports on Maternal Deaths in the Commonwealth of Australia for the years 1964-1984 (1-7) shows that there have been 1,193 maternal deaths in this 21-year period, of which 54 (4.5%) were due to AFE. This paper presents data regarding these deaths and also describes 2 cases of AFE which occurred at Caesarean section performed for placenta praevia, one of which was lethal.