| Amniotic fluid embolism | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Intravascular squames are present in this example of amniotic fluid embolism. | |
| Specialty | Obstetrics  |
| Risk factors | Advanced maternal age, history of pre-eclampsia, uterine rupture, fetal distress |
| Frequency | 1 in 20,000 births |
An amniotic fluid embolism (AFE) is a life-threatening childbirth (obstetric) emergency in which amniotic fluid enters the blood stream of the mother, triggering a serious reaction which results in cardiorespiratory (heart and lung) collapse and massive bleeding (coagulopathy).[1][2][3] The rate at which it occurs is 1 instance per 20,000 births and it comprises 10% of all maternal deaths.
- ^ Stafford, Irene; Sheffield, Jeanne (2007). "Amniotic Fluid Embolism". Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinics of North America. 34 (3): 545–553. doi:10.1016/j.ogc.2007.08.002. ISSN 0889-8545. PMID 17921014. S2CID 30754268.[subscription required]
- ^ Stein, Paul (2016). Pulmonary embolism. Chichester, West Sussex, UK Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons Inc. ISBN 9781119039099.
- ^ *Leveno, Kenneth (2016). Williams manual of pregnancy complications. New York: McGraw-Hill Medical. pp. 223–224. ISBN 9780071765626.