Cardiopulmonary arrest in pregnancy: the role of caesarean section in the resuscitative protocol
Cordero, D.R.; Toffle, R.C.; McCauley, C.S.
West Virginia Medical Journal 88(9): 402-403
1992
ISSN/ISBN: 0043-3284 PMID: 1462532 Document Number: 400270
A 36-year-old black multipara at 32 weeks gestation was referred with apparent peripartal cardiomyopathy. Upon arrival, she was found to be in pulmonary edema; and shortly thereafter developed cardiopulmonary arrest. She failed to respond to initial attempts at cardiopulmonary resuscitation but subsequently responded after Caesarean section and pericardiocentesis. This case exemplifies the unique aspects of performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation on a gravid female in the latter part of pregnancy and that Caesarean section should be considered an integral part of the resuscitative protocol when standard protocols fail.