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Treatments and drugs
By Mayo Clinic staffAn amniotic fluid embolism requires rapid treatment to address low blood oxygen and low blood pressure.
Emergency treatments might include:
- Catheter placement. Your health care team will place a thin, hollow tube into one of your arteries (arterial catheter) to monitor your blood pressure. You'll also have another tube placed into a vein in your chest (central venous catheter), which can be used to give fluids, medications or transfusions, as well as draw blood.
- Oxygen. You might need to have a breathing tube inserted into your airway to help you breathe.
- Medications. Your doctor might give you medications to improve and support your heart function. Other medications might be used to decrease the pressure caused by fluid going into your heart and lungs.
- Transfusions. If you have uncontrollable bleeding, you'll need transfusions of blood, blood products and replacement fluids.
If you have an amniotic fluid embolism before delivering your baby, your doctor will treat you with an eye toward safely delivering your baby as soon as possible. An emergency C-section might be needed.
References
- Monga M. Amniotic fluid embolism: A diagnostic dilemma. Critical Care Medicine. 2012;40:2236.
- Kramer MS, et al. Amniotic fluid embolism: Incidence, risk factors and impact on perinatal outcome. British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. 2012;119:874.
- Knight M, et al. Amniotic fluid embolism incidence, risk factors and outcomes: A review and recommendations. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth. 2012;12:7.
- Caputo M, et al. Severe ischemic complications caused by second trimester amniotic fluid embolism. International Journal of Gynaecology and Obstetrics. 2012;116:175.
- Benson MD. Current concepts of immunology and diagnosis in amniotic fluid embolism. Clinical and Developmental Immunology. 2012;2012:1.
- Roberts CL, et al. Amniotic fluid embolism in an Australian population-based cohort. British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. 2010;117:1417.
- Tintinalli JE, et al. Tintinalli's Emergency Medicine: A Comprehensive Study Guide. 7th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill; 2011. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=6363736. Accessed July 18, 2012.
- DeCherney AH, et al. Current Diagnosis & Treatment Obstetrics & Gynecology.10th ed. New York, N.Y.: The McGraw-Hill Companies; 2007. http://www.accessmedicine.com/resourceTOC.aspx?resourceID=9. Accessed July 18, 2012.
- Cunningham FG, et al. Williams Obstetrics. 23rd ed. New York, N.Y.: The McGraw-Hill Companies; 2010. http://www.accessmedicine.com/resourceTOC.aspx?resourceID=46. Accessed July 18, 2012.
- Sibai BM. Management of Acute Obstetric Emergencies. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2011:71.
- Dorland's Illustrated Medical Dictionary. 32nd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: W.B. Saunders; 2011. http://dorlands.com/index.jsp. Accessed July 26, 2012.
- Abenhaim HA, et al. Incidence and risk factors of amniotic fluid embolisms: A population-based study on 3 million births in the United States. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2008;199:49.e1.
- Gist RS, et al. Amniotic fluid embolism. Anesthesia and Analgesia. 2009;108:1599.
- Baldisseri MR. Amniotic fluid embolism syndrome. http://www.uptodate.com/index. Accessed July 31, 2012.
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