PREGNANCY-BIRTH Messages for August, 1999: Re: Amniotic Embolysum

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Re: Amniotic Embolysum

From: William D. McIntosh, MD (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Tue, 24 Aug 1999 15:21:02 -0500 (CDT)

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At Tue, 24 Aug 1999, Leslie wrote: >
>I had a baby on August 20, 1999. I had an uneventful birth but about 10
>minutes after the birth I had what they call an amniotic embolysum. They
>say that there is a less than 1% survival rate and that I am very luck
>to be alive. I have tried to get information on this condition and have
>been unsuccessful. I am very curious to know what this is and what
>happened. If you can give me any information or direct me to where I
>can find some it would be greatly appriciated. I understand that this
>is very rare but I think that it is something that needes to be
>discussed with patients so they know that it is a possibility. Thank
>You so much, Leslie Trader

You ARE very lucky to be alive, though the survival rate is considerably more than 1%. An embolism is when anything other than liquid blood moves through a blood vessel. Most commonly, this would be a blood clot, a serious condition in and of itself, or sometimes gas bubbles. In the case of an amniotic fluid embolism, the "thing" that is not blood traveling through the vessels is some quantity of amniotic fluid. The flow of blood is such that this amniotic fluid flows to and through the right side of the heart, and on into the lungs, where all the junk that is in the fluid quickly causes severe damage and serious inflammation. If the amount of fluid is large enough, the patient dies in just a few seconds. If the amount is smaller, the inflammatory response shuts down the lungs within a short time, minutes to hours, and survival is poor at best.

The fluid gets into a blood vessel when 2 conditions are met. The first is that there is an open vessel in the uterus. The second is that the pressure on the fluid is higher than the lowest pressure in the vessel. The occurs most commonly (though this is a very, very rare condition) is with placental abruption, when the placenta detachs in whole or part prematurely, and the force of the contractions forces amniotic fluid into the torn blood vessels of the uterine wall.

-- William D. McIntosh, MD, FACOG Clarksville, TN

This is for educational purposes only. It is not intended to replace consultation and examination by your physician or other health care provider.

Next message: William D. McIntosh, MD: "Re: Pregnancy after 30"
Previous message: Shell: "Re: Nipple Piercings"
In reply to: Leslie: "Amniotic Embolysum"
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