Successful extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in the management of acute respiratory distress syndrome and cardiopulmonary collapse secondary to amniotic fluid embolism

Authors

Sumon Roy, Rochester General HospitalFollow
Nishit A. Biniwale, Rochester General Hospital
Venkata S. Pendela, Rochester General Hospital
Patricia Oates, Rochester General Hospital
Katrina Wojciechowski, Rochester General Hospital
Scott C. Feitell, Rochester General Hospital

Peer Reviewed

1

Publication Date

3-11-2019

Document Type

Case Report

Abstract

Amniotic fluid embolism (AFE) is one of the most devastating complications of pregnancy that typically manifests as acute cardiopulmonary collapse during delivery or in the postpartum period. The potential role of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) as a management technique in severe cases of AFE remains largely unknown given the limited literature available. In this report, we present the first case, to our knowledge, of successful implementation of ECMO as a life-saving measure in a case of hemorrhagic shock due to postpartum bleeding complicated by severe AFE leading to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) ultimately requiring tracheostomy. Hemodynamic decompensation is often rapid but transient in cases of severe AFE, and we recommend early consideration of ECMO implementation given its vital utility in these critical moments.

DOI

https://doi.org/10.13023/vad.2019.04

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 License

Recommended Citation

Roy, Sumon; Biniwale, Nishit A.; Pendela, Venkata S.; Oates, Patricia; Wojciechowski, Katrina; and Feitell, Scott C. (2019) "Successful extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in the management of acute respiratory distress syndrome and cardiopulmonary collapse secondary to amniotic fluid embolism," The VAD Journal: Vol. 5, Article 4.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.13023/vad.2019.04
Available at: https://uknowledge.uky.edu/vad/vol5/iss1/4