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The Resus Room

Maternal Arrest; Roadside to Resus

Feb 12, 2025
Caroline Leech, an Emergency Medicine and Prehospital doctor, shares her expertise on maternal cardiac arrests, a rare but critical situation affecting mothers and their unborn babies. She discusses the physiological changes during pregnancy that complicate resuscitation efforts. Insights from her recent paper on Resuscitative Hysterotomy challenge the conventional survival expectations for both mother and child. Caroline emphasizes the need for effective teamwork, communication, and training to prepare for these high-stakes emergencies while navigating the emotional toll on responders.
01:05:59

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Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Maternal cardiac arrest occurs in 1 in 12,000 to 30,000 pregnancies, with survival rates heavily influenced by cause and timely intervention.
  • Physiological changes during pregnancy require tailored resuscitation protocols to effectively manage cardiac arrest for both mother and fetus.

Deep dives

Understanding Maternal Cardiac Arrest

Maternal cardiac arrest is a critical situation affecting approximately 1 in 12,000 to 30,000 pregnancies in developed countries, with high stakes for both the mother and the unborn child. The causes of such arrests can vary and include pre-existing cardiovascular conditions, complications from anesthesia, and conditions like amniotic fluid embolism and hemorrhage. While some sources suggest that maternal survival rates can exceed 50%, these rates largely depend on the cause of the collapse, gestational age, and the timeliness of receiving emergency care. Notably, 25% of maternal arrests in the UK relate to anesthesia complications, emphasizing the need for careful management and prompt response in these emergencies.

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