Cardiac arrest in pregnancy

BACKGROUND: Despite efforts, Uganda has not met the World Health Organization target of < 12 newborn deaths per 1,000 live births. Severe maternal morbidity or 'near miss' is a major contributor to adverse perinatal outcomes, particularly in low-resource settings. However, the specific impact of maternal near miss on perinatal outcomes in Uganda remains insufficiently investigated. We examined the association between maternal near miss and adverse perinatal outcomes at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital (MRRH) in southwestern Uganda...

Background: Spontaneous abortion is the most common complication of early pregnancy. In this study, we aim to investigate the clinical application value of genetic diagnosis using single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) microarray analysis on the products of conception and to characterize the types of genetic abnormalities and their prevalence in pregnancy loss in Northwest China. Methods: Over 48 months, we selected 652 products of conception, which included chorionic villi, fetal tissues, germ cell samples, amniotic fluid samples, cord blood samples, and a cardiac blood sample...

Brugada syndrome is a genetic cardiac disease associated with increased risk of ventricular tachyarrhythmia and sudden cardiac arrest. Labor and delivery in this population poses management challenges of labor induction, analgesia, postpartum hemorrhage, and arrhythmic events. This case report describes a multidisciplinary approach to intrapartum management in maternal Brugada syndrome.

A 37-year-old gravida 5, para 3 woman presented with an unplanned pregnancy 6 weeks after experiencing a cardiac arrest caused by ventricular fibrillation from coronary vasospasm. She opted to continue the pregnancy with medical management despite ongoing chest pain and delivered a healthy female infant via vaginal delivery at 37 weeks.

Uterine rupture is a rare obstetric emergency that is typically associated with the presence of scar tissue such as in the case of previous caesarean section. In this case report, a primigravid patient presented to the hospital in cardiac arrest with massive haemoperitoneum secondary to a posterior uterine rupture. The histological specimen was found to have diffuse adenomyosis at the site of rupture. On review of the literature, there is insufficient evidence to suggest we as clinicians should alter the antenatal care for patients with known adenomyosis; however, this case highlights how we should have a high index of suspicion for those presenting with signs and symptoms of uterine rupture with known adenomyosis in the absence of other risk factors...

Amniotic fluid embolism (AFE) is a rare, sudden, and catastrophic complication of pregnancy that can result in cardiopulmonary arrest, potentially leading to death. The pathophysiology of an AFE includes an inflammatory and coagulopathic response due to fetal materials entering maternal circulation with the hallmark triad of symptoms: acute respiratory distress, cardiovascular collapse, and coagulopathy. Management of AFE should include high-quality cardiopulmonary resuscitation, immediate delivery of the fetus if applicable, early intubation to provide adequate oxygenation and ventilation, fluid volume resuscitation, and ongoing evaluation of coagulopathy...

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate risk for peripartum cardiomyopathy during delivery and postpartum hospitalizations, and analyze associated trends, risk factors, and clinical outcomes. METHODS: The 2010-2020 Nationwide Readmissions Database was used for this retrospective cohort study. Delivery hospitalizations along with postpartum readmissions occurring within five months of delivery discharge were analyzed. Risk factors associated with peripartum cardiomyopathy were analyzed with unadjusted and adjusted logistic regression models with odds ratios as measures of effect...

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Cardiovascular disease is a common cause of morbidity and mortality in pregnant women. Arrhythmias are common complications during pregnancy; however, the data are limited. Our goal was to characterize the epidemiology, clinical presentation, and impact of cardiac arrhythmias on maternal-fetal outcomes. METHODS: A prospective cohort study from the Colombian Registry of Pregnancy and Cardiovascular Disease was carried out from 2016 to 2019...

Obstetric emergencies are critical situations that jeopardize the health of both the mother and the baby during pregnancy or childbirth. This study aimed to validate the effectiveness of clinical simulation training in managing these situations. We conducted a narrative review of studies published between 2008 and 2022, collected from databases including Scopus, Sciencedirect, PubMed, Springer, Scielo, and Google Scholar. Data from studies that met our inclusion criteria were meticulously gathered and summarized...

Aortic dissection is the acute aortic syndrome with the highest mortality, and pregnancy and arterial hypertension are known risk factors. Its association with the perinatal period is a particularly unique and potentially devastating clinical catastrophe which is why the approach to a pregnant woman in cardiorespiratory arrest (CRA) should be multidisciplinary and early, with extraction of the fetus ideally within five minutes after the arrest. We present the case of a 39-year-old pregnant woman, who presented with a cardiorespiratory arrest in the context of an aortic dissection with cardiac tamponade and the need for an urgent perimortem cesarean section...

PURPOSE: Maternal hyperandrogenism during pregnancy is associated with adverse gestational outcomes and chronic non-communicable diseases in offspring. However, few studies are reported to demonstrate the association between maternal androgen excess and cardiac health in offspring. This study aimed to explore the relation between androgen exposure in utero and cardiac health of offspring in fetal and adult period. Its underlying mechanism is also illustrated in this research. METHODS: Pregnant mice were injected with dihydrotestosterone (DHT) from gestational day (GD) 16...

BACKGROUND: To describe and explore the risk factors, clinical presentations, timely diagnostic approaches, and management in patients experiencing unscarred uterine rupture with catastrophic hemorrhage. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed clinical and imaging data from women who encountered postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) and were diagnosed with unscarred uterine rupture within a three-year timeframe (2018-2020). The data were extracted from medical records obtained from a multi-hospital 24-hour emergency PPH transfer system...

Severe maternal morbidity (SMM) refers to any unexpected outcome directly related to pregnancy and childbirth that results in both short-term delivery complications and long-term consequences to a women's health. This affects about 60,000 women annually in the United States. Cardiovascular contributions to SMM including cardiac arrest, arrhythmia, and acute myocardial infarction are on the rise, probably driven by changing demographics of the pregnant population including more women of extreme maternal age and an increased prevalence of cardiometabolic and structural heart disease...

Peripartum cardiomyopathy is a rare and potentially dangerous form of heart failure presenting in women in the last month of pregnancy until five months post partum. The pathogenesis is believed to be multifactorial. This case report describes a young woman with adiposity and preeclampsia who was admitted to hospital and whose clinical condition quickly deteriorated. During the emergency caesarian section, the woman suffered a cardiac arrest and was successfully resuscitated. Echocardiography showed heart failure with an ejection fraction less-than 45% confirming the diagnosis of peripartum cardiomyopathy...

IMPORTANCE: Unhoused status is a substantial problem in the US. Pregnancy characteristics and maternal outcomes of individuals experiencing homelessness are currently under active investigation to optimize health outcomes for this population. OBJECTIVE: To assess the trends, characteristics, and maternal outcomes associated with unhoused status in pregnancy. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This cross-sectional study analyzed data from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project National (Nationwide) Inpatient Sample...

Sudden cardiac death (SCD) is the leading cause of mortality globally (violent or non-violent), with few to no feasible remedies. The etiopathogenesis of SCD involves a complex and multilayered substrate in which dynamic factors interact with a preexistent cardiovascular pathology, which is often undiagnosed and untreated, leading to the rapid development of cardiac rhythm disorders and cardiac arrest. Cardiovascular disease is a rare but emerging factor in maternal mortality that can be justified by an upward trend in the mean age of pregnant individuals...

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in women of reproductive age is uncommon; however, the risk of AMI increases four to five-fold during pregnancy as compared to non-pregnant women of similar age. In the period following childbirth, the incidence of AMI is often attributed to a range of factors. These factors encompass coronary vessel dissection related to atherosclerosis, thrombosis, coronary spasm, and, in rare cases, takotsubo cardiomyopathy. The physiological alterations that accompany pregnancy induce a state of heightened coagulation, thereby elevating the risk of ischemic heart disease (IHD) in women...

Best practices in cardiac arrest depend on continuous high-quality chest compressions, appropriate ventilatory management, early defibrillation of shockable rhythms, and identification and treatment of reversible causes. Although most patients can be treated according to highly vetted treatment guidelines, some special situations in cardiac arrest arise where additional skills and preparation can improve outcomes. Situations covered in this section involve cardiac arrest in context of electrical injuries, asthma, allergic reactions, pregnancy, trauma, electrolyte imbalances, toxic exposures, hypothermia, drowning, pulmonary embolism, and left ventricular assist devices...

A 38-year-old grand multiparous pregnant woman in the United Arab Emirates presented to a secondary hospital in active labor at 38 weeks and two days of pregnancy. She visited the antenatal clinic just once during her entire pregnancy. Antenatally, her venous thromboembolism (VTE) risk assessment score was 2, and she was not started on thromboprophylaxis. Postnatally, she was due to receive a dose of low molecular weight heparin at eight hours postpartum; however, just four hours after delivery, the patient had a cardiac arrest, and it was found by imaging studies that she had a pulmonary embolism...

INTRODUCTION: Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a rare, severe complication in pregnancy, in which case thrombolysis can be lifesaving but has risks. We aim to highlight actions specific to pregnant women. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 24-week pregnant woman developed shortness of breath and experienced sudden cardiac arrest. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was begun immediately in the ambulance and a perimortem caesarean section was performed upon arrival at hospital, but the new-born died...