Amniotic Fluid Embolism
The number one response from families [I work with] is, ‘We have never heard that something like this could happen.’ - Miranda Klassen
image by: AFE (Amniotic Fluid Embolism) Foundation
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AFE Survivor Emily T
“You have the shortest chart I’ve ever seen.” I remember those words like it was yesterday. My OB was joking about how healthy I was during my pregnancy, how everything my daughter and I were going through was “textbook on time.” I was getting extra tests since I am vegan and that tends to make doctors nervous when you are pregnant. The only thing they were worried about was Placenta Previa, but it soon moved far enough away from my cervix that it wasn’t a concern. Truthfully I liked being pregnant. It went pretty easy for me besides some morning sickness in the first few weeks. I was still working full time and everything was moving along smoothly. We were so excited for our first baby!
At…
Resources
Amniotic fluid embolism: A puzzling and dangerous obstetric problem
From the clinical standpoint, AFE does not match the typical picture for embolism and more closely resembles conditions such as anaphylaxis or systemic inflammatory response syndrome
Second chances don't come around too often...
As Josh drove he googled "Amniotic Fluid Embolism" and was convinced he would arrive at the hospital to see that he had already had his last moments with me alive....
Amniotic Fluid Embolism – Everything You Need To Know
AFE is thankfully a rare complication of pregnancy and birth. It can’t be prevented and it is difficult to predict if and when AFE will occur.
Amniotic Fluid Embolism, An Obstetric Emergency
Even today, AFE is the leading cause of death during labor and the first few postpartum hours, and it remains a deadly and unpreventable obstetric emergency.
Amniotic fluid embolism: a leading cause of maternal death yet still a medical conundrum
Amniotic fluid embolism is a rare and potentially catastrophic condition that is unique to pregnancy. The presentation may range from relatively subtle clinical events to sudden maternal cardiac arrest. Despite an increased awareness of the condition, it remains a leading cause of maternal mortality.
California Woman Who Survived the 'Most Feared Complication of Childbirth' Now Advocates for Other Mothers
When Miranda Klassen’s trouble-free first pregnancy ended in an almost fatal delivery, she woke up from a medically induced coma with a newborn son and very few answers.
Does your obstetric unit have a protocol for treating amniotic fluid embolism?
Although rare, the potential for fatality with amniotic fluid embolism is high, and developing and practicing a written, multidisciplinary response to the condition will prepare the unit for many other, more common, obstetric emergencies.
Incidence, risk factors, management and outcomes of amniotic-fluid embolism:
Amniotic fluid embolism (AFE) although rare, remains one of the leading causes of direct maternal mortality in high-income countries, characterised by unexplained sudden cardiovascular collapse, respiratory distress and disseminated intravascular coagulation.
Rural America’s Childbirth Crisis: The Fight to Save Whitney Brown
One of the medical residents spoke up. “Dr. Adair, do you think it could be AFE?” ”Yes,” Dr. Adair responded. “That’s exactly what I think.” They were referring to an amniotic fluid embolism, when a mother develops shock from an allergic-like reaction to amniotic fluid entering her circulatory system. It is rare, often fatal and usually strikes in two stages.
The day I died…with my unborn daughter still in my body
The following is a story handed down to me from my husband and many others about my untimely death and miraculous survival.
AFE Survivor Emily T
I’m one of the lucky ones. Physically I’m doing pretty well, emotionally will be a long road for me. You can’t die and come back unscathed. My chart is a little bit longer now that it was a year ago, but I have a community to belong to now. A purpose to share my story about this awful circumstance. Because it can happen to you, your sister, your daughter, your wife.
Amniotic Fluid Embolism Foundation
The Amniotic Fluid Embolism Foundation is the only patient advocacy organization, serving those affected or devastated by amniotic fluid embolism. Our mission is to fund research, raise public awareness and provide support for those whose lives have been touched by this often-fatal maternal health complication.
NORD
Amniotic fluid embolism (AFE) is an extremely rare, but life-threatening complication that affects pregnant women shortly before, during, or immediately following labor and childbirth. Most instances occur during labor. In this disorder, it is hypothesized that a pregnant woman has a severe, allergic reaction to amniotic fluid or other fetal material such as fetal cells, which enter the mother’s bloodstream.
Patient
The classical scenario of AFE involves an older multiparous woman in advanced labour, who suddenly collapses.
StatPearls
Amniotic fluid embolism (AFE) is a life-threatening obstetric emergency characterized by sudden cardiorespiratory collapse and disseminated intravascular coagulation. Amniotic fluid embolism (AFE) represents the second leading cause of peripartum maternal death in the United States and the number one cause of peripartum cardiac arrest. The presentation is abrupt, usually with sudden cardiorespiratory collapse followed by severe coagulopathy and refractory resuscitation.
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