The answer to yesterday's #CriticalCareQuiz was C, neurological deficit in 85%.
Incidence worldwide varies between 1 in 8,000 and 1 in 83,000 live births, and mortality is between 61-86% with many of these patients dying within the first hour after presentation. 1/5
Amniotic fluid embolism syndrome accounts for approximately 10% of all maternal deaths in the United States and can result in permanent neurologic deficits in up to 85% of survivors.
2/5
Risk factors previously attributed to development of amniotic fluid embolus include turbulent labor, trauma, multiparity, use of oxytocin, increased maternal age, increased gestational age, male fetus, and cesarean section.
3/5
Clinical diagnosis is most frequently during labor (65-70% of cases) & much less frequently in postpartum patients (11%)
Cardinal findings of amniotic fluid embolus: hypoxia, hypotension with shock, altered mental status, & disseminated intravascular coagulation
4/5
There are no pharmacologic or other therapies that prevent or treat amniotic fluid embolism syndrome. Supportive care typically involves aggressive treatment of multiple types of shock simultaneously.