Collapse in Pregnancy
Circulatory
Failure
- massive blood loss from
- abruption
- praevia
- genital tract injuries, including ruptured uterus
- atonic uterus
- septicaemic shock
- acute uterine inversion
- myocardial failure
- myocardial infarction
- cardiomyopathy of pregnancy
- eclampsia
- epilepsy
- CVA
- SAH
- acute withdrawal in drug users
- amniotic fluid embolism
- pulmonary embolism
- pulmonary oedema
- aspiration (Mendelson’s syndrome)
Management
- ABCs (remember check blood group with IV access - Anti-D?)
- Call for help
- In addition to standard life support measures remember:
- The gravid uterus causes supine hypotension from aorto-caval
compression and the women should be placed in the left lateral
or at least on a 15º tilt
- If advanced life support does not restore cardiopulmonary function
within 5 minutes then consider delivery of the baby by caesarean
section to improve venous return and save the mother’s life.
