Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 22, 2026
Lung Rapid Recovery Procurement Combined with Abdominal Normothermic Regional Perfusion in Controlled Donation after Circulatory Death
Published on: August 15, 2022
Early application of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in a patient with amniotic fluid embolism
Chang-Hsun Ho1, Kuen-Bao Chen, Shih-Kai Liu
1Department of Anesthesia, Pain Management and Critical Care Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan, R.O.C.
Amniotic fluid embolism occurs rarely but is a leading cause of maternal mortality. Regardless of emergent supportive medical treatment, it is associated with a very high mortality rate. Here, we present the case of a 33-year-old pregnant woman with amniotic fluid embolism, who sustained cardiac arrest and was rescued with early application of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. The management of amniotic fluid embolism is to initially focus on rapid cardiopulmonary stabilization. Hemodynamic decompensation may be transient and recoverable within a few hours. Early application of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation should be considered in patients who are unresponsive to medical therapy before severe organ damage supervenes.
Amniotic fluid embolism occurs rarely but is a leading cause of maternal mortality. Regardless of emergent supportive medical treatment, it is associated with a very high mortality rate. Here, we present the case of a 33-year-old pregnant woman with amniotic fluid embolism, who sustained cardiac arrest and was rescued with early application of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. The management of amniotic fluid embolism is to initially focus on rapid cardiopulmonary stabilization. Hemodynamic decompensation may be transient and recoverable within a few hours. Early application of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation should be considered in patients who are unresponsive to medical therapy before severe organ damage supervenes.
