Amniotic fluid embolism--2 case reports and a review of maternal deaths from this cause in Australia

Amniotic fluid embolism (AFE) is a dramatic, rare and frequently lethal complication of pregnancy. Perusal of the National Health and Medical Research Council reports on Maternal Deaths in the Commonwealth of Australia for the years 1964-1984 (1-7) shows that there have been 1,193 maternal deaths in this 21-year period, of which 54 (4.5%) were due to AFE. This paper presents data regarding these deaths and also describes 2 cases of AFE which occurred at Caesarean section performed for placenta praevia, one of which was lethal.