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Biomedical subjects

M C Sisson

Publications and source records attributed to M C Sisson.

2 recordsLinked to original sources

Amniotic fluid embolism.

Pulmonary embolism is the leading cause of maternal death in the United States. Amniotic fluid embolism (AFE) represents the least preventable and most lethal of complications with a reported mortality of 86% and an associated fetal demise of 50%. Although it is widely accepted as a clinical entity, AFE is incompletely understood. A combination of clinical presentation, laboratory findings, and exclusion of other pathologies leads to the diagnosis of AFE. The mainstays of treatment are oxygenation, maintenance of cardiac output, and correction of coagulopathy. The prognosis for the patient experiencing AFE remains bleak because it is largely unpredictable and, except for supportive measures, cannot be corrected.

Adult

Amniotic fluid embolism.

Pulmonary embolism is the leading cause of maternal death in the United States. Amniotic fluid embolism (AFE) represents the least preventable and most lethal of complications. AFE has a reported mortality of 86% and an associated fetal demise of 50%. AFE is widely accepted as a clinical entity but is not completely understood. A combination of clinical presentation, laboratory findings, and exclusion of other abnormalities leads to the diagnosis of AFE. The mainstays of treatment are oxygenation, maintenance of cardiac output, and correction of coagulopathy. The prognosis for the patient experiencing AFE remains bleak because the course of the disorder is largely unpredictable, and AFE cannot be corrected. Only supportive measures can be given.

Adult