Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- List of contributors
- Foreword
- Preface
- Acknowledgements
- List of abbreviations
- 1 Maternal physiology and obstetrics
- 2 Antenatal care
- 3 Induction of labour
- 4 Normal labour
- 5 Abnormal labour
- 6 Fetal monitoring
- 7 Pre-eclampsia and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy
- 8 Operative obstetrics
- 9 Obstetric haemorrhage
- 10 Thromboembolic disorders of pregnancy
- 11 Infection
- 12 Life support in obstetrics
- 13 Drugs in obstetrics
- 14 Confidential enquiries into fetal, neonatal and maternal death
- Appendix 1 Adult Advanced Life Support Algorithm
- Appendix 2 The Management of Postpartum Haemorrhage Algorithm
- Appendix 3 Emergency Management of Eclamptic Fit Algorithm
- Index
- References
12 - Life support in obstetrics
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 21 August 2009
Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- List of contributors
- Foreword
- Preface
- Acknowledgements
- List of abbreviations
- 1 Maternal physiology and obstetrics
- 2 Antenatal care
- 3 Induction of labour
- 4 Normal labour
- 5 Abnormal labour
- 6 Fetal monitoring
- 7 Pre-eclampsia and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy
- 8 Operative obstetrics
- 9 Obstetric haemorrhage
- 10 Thromboembolic disorders of pregnancy
- 11 Infection
- 12 Life support in obstetrics
- 13 Drugs in obstetrics
- 14 Confidential enquiries into fetal, neonatal and maternal death
- Appendix 1 Adult Advanced Life Support Algorithm
- Appendix 2 The Management of Postpartum Haemorrhage Algorithm
- Appendix 3 Emergency Management of Eclamptic Fit Algorithm
- Index
- References
Summary
Cardiac arrest in pregnancy is an extremely rare occurrence. Effective resuscitation of the mother is the most effective way to optimise fetal outcome. Resuscitation attempts should follow the Resuscitation Council UK guidelines on advance life support; however, these need to be modified when dealing with a pregnant mother. The greatest chance for both mother and baby to survive during cardiac arrest is if the baby is delivered in order to relieve aortocaval compression. The incidence of perimortem CS in the UK is quoted as 1 in every 170,000 deliveries. The decision to proceed to perimortem caesarean section (CS) is dependent on gestation. Preparation for the perimortem CS should be made immediately on commencing resuscitation. It is recommended that a classical midline approach should be used to speed up the procedure as there is natural diastasis of the recti muscles in late pregnancy.
Keywords
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Obstetrics for Anaesthetists , pp. 136 - 139Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2008
References
Confidential Enquiry into Maternal and Child Health, Why Mothers Die 2000–2002 – The Sixth Report of the Confidential Enquiries into Maternal Deaths in the UK (London: Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists Press, 2004).
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American Heart Association, Supplement. Part 10.8: Cardiac arrest associated with pregnancy. Circulation, 112:IV (2005), 150–3.
, , , et al. (eds.) Adult Advance Life Support, 5th edn (London: Resuscitation Council (UK), 2005).