Successful Venoarterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Treatment in a Pregnant Woman with Amniotic Fluid Embolism
Kwan Young Oh, Jinho Choi, Kangjae Jung, Chang Young Jung, Jung Bo Yang, Chul Kwon Lim, Joong Gyu Ha, Yun Seok Yang
Amniotic fluid embolism (AFE) is a rare, but catastrophic, obstetric complication with a high mortality
rate. Moreover, >50% of maternal deaths occur within 1 h of symptom development. Further, it involves
a high perinatal mortality rate, with 50% of affected neonates presenting neurological impairments.
AFE is characterized by cardiovascular collapse, respiratory failure, and coagulopathy, followed
by encephalopathy, multi-organ failure, and fetal distress. Therefore, its treatment strategy includes
cardiopulmonary support, massive transfusion, and early cesarean section. However, venoarterial
extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) has been used in cases with rapid progression
of cardiac dysfunction, which has significantly decreased the maternal mortality rate. Therefore,
VA-ECMO has been accepted as a useful treatment method for patients with AFE, including cardiac
dysfunction. This article describes a case in which a patient with AFE was successfully treated with
VA-ECMO and presents a literature review
