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Cardiac arrest due to massive pulmonary embolism following caesarean section. Successful resuscitation and pulmonary embolectomy
Author(s) -
IlsaasM.D C.,
Husby P.,
Koller M. E.,
Segadal L.,
HolstLarsen H.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
acta anaesthesiologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.738
H-Index - 107
eISSN - 1399-6576
pISSN - 0001-5172
DOI - 10.1111/j.1399-6576.1998.tb05120.x
Subject(s) - medicine , pulmonary embolism , cardiopulmonary resuscitation , embolectomy , resuscitation , anesthesia , intubation , surgery
A woman developed pulmonary embolism with cardiac arrest after caesarean section. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation was performed for 45 min during which echocardiography showed right ventricular dilatation. After stabilization, but still in a critical condition, the patient was transferred by airambulance to a hospital with facilities for extracorporeal circulation. A massive embolus was removed. Some hours after extubation the patient developed respiratory insuffiency and hypovolaemia. Re‐intubation was followed by severe hypotension requiring external cardiac compression for about 15 min. An emergency explorative laparotomy revealed a ruptured liver with a subcapsular haematoma. A critical illness polyneuropathy made prolonged ventilatory support necessary. She recovered without cerebral sequelae.