U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Format

Send to:

Choose Destination

Amniotic fluid embolism

MedGen UID:
8586
•Concept ID:
C0013927
•
Disease or Syndrome
Synonyms: Amniotic Fluid Embolism; Amniotic Fluid Embolisms; Embolism, Amniotic Fluid; Embolisms, Amniotic Fluid
SNOMED CT: Amniotic fluid embolism (17263003); Amniotic fluid embolus (860708004)
 
Monarch Initiative: MONDO:0850046
Orphanet: ORPHA617304

Definition

Acute hypotension or cardiac arrest, acute hypoxia or coagulopathy in the absence of any other potential explanation related to the presence of amniotic fluid or the fetal debris within the maternal vascular system during the antepartum or intrapartum period. [from NCI]

Term Hierarchy

CClinical test,  RResearch test,  OOMIM,  GGeneReviews,  VClinVar  
  • CROGVAmniotic fluid embolism

Professional guidelines

PubMed

Caring for two in the ICU: Pharmacologic management of pregnancy-related complications.
Heavner MS, Cucci MD, Barlow B, Bell CM, Eng CC, Erdman G, Li M, Smith SE, Aldhaeefi M, Thompson Bastin ML, Hawkins WA, Rose C, Lankford A
Pharmacotherapy 2023 Jul;43(7):659-674. Epub 2023 Jun 23 doi: 10.1002/phar.2837. PMID: 37323102
Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine Special Statement: Checklist for initial management of amniotic fluid embolism.
Patient Safety and Quality Committee, Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine. Electronic address: smfm@smfm.org, Combs CA, Montgomery DM, Toner LE, Dildy GA
Am J Obstet Gynecol 2021 Apr;224(4):B29-B32. Epub 2021 Jan 6 doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2021.01.001. PMID: 33417901
Amniotic fluid embolism: diagnosis and management.
Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM). Electronic address: pubs@smfm.org, Pacheco LD, Saade G, Hankins GD, Clark SL
Am J Obstet Gynecol 2016 Aug;215(2):B16-24. Epub 2016 Mar 14 doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2016.03.012. PMID: 26987420

Recent clinical studies

Etiology

Haemostatic support in postpartum haemorrhage: A review of the literature and expert opinion.
Hofer S, Blaha J, Collins PW, Ducloy-Bouthors AS, Guasch E, Labate F, Lança F, Nyfløt LT, Steiner K, Van de Velde M
Eur J Anaesthesiol 2023 Jan 1;40(1):29-38. Epub 2022 Sep 22 doi: 10.1097/EJA.0000000000001744. PMID: 36131564Free PMC Article
Association of Pregnancy Characteristics and Maternal Mortality With Amniotic Fluid Embolism.
Mazza GR, Youssefzadeh AC, Klar M, Kunze M, Matsuzaki S, Mandelbaum RS, Ouzounian JG, Matsuo K
JAMA Netw Open 2022 Nov 1;5(11):e2242842. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.42842. PMID: 36399343Free PMC Article
Pulmonary Embolism and Amniotic Fluid Embolism.
Coggins AS, Gomez E, Sheffield JS
Obstet Gynecol Clin North Am 2022 Sep;49(3):439-460. doi: 10.1016/j.ogc.2022.02.015. PMID: 36122978
Obstetric Disorders and Critical Illness.
Griffin KM, Oxford-Horrey C, Bourjeily G
Clin Chest Med 2022 Sep;43(3):471-488. doi: 10.1016/j.ccm.2022.04.008. PMID: 36116815Free PMC Article
Postdelivery Emergencies.
Wheaton N, Al-Abdullah A, Haertlein T
Emerg Med Clin North Am 2019 May;37(2):287-300. doi: 10.1016/j.emc.2019.01.014. PMID: 30940373

Diagnosis

Post-abortion Complications: A Narrative Review for Emergency Clinicians.
Bridwell RE, Long B, Montrief T, Gottlieb M
West J Emerg Med 2022 Oct 23;23(6):919-925. doi: 10.5811/westjem.2022.8.57929. PMID: 36409940Free PMC Article
Association of Pregnancy Characteristics and Maternal Mortality With Amniotic Fluid Embolism.
Mazza GR, Youssefzadeh AC, Klar M, Kunze M, Matsuzaki S, Mandelbaum RS, Ouzounian JG, Matsuo K
JAMA Netw Open 2022 Nov 1;5(11):e2242842. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.42842. PMID: 36399343Free PMC Article
Pulmonary Embolism and Amniotic Fluid Embolism.
Coggins AS, Gomez E, Sheffield JS
Obstet Gynecol Clin North Am 2022 Sep;49(3):439-460. doi: 10.1016/j.ogc.2022.02.015. PMID: 36122978
Obstetric Disorders and Critical Illness.
Griffin KM, Oxford-Horrey C, Bourjeily G
Clin Chest Med 2022 Sep;43(3):471-488. doi: 10.1016/j.ccm.2022.04.008. PMID: 36116815Free PMC Article
Amniotic fluid embolism: diagnosis and management.
Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM). Electronic address: pubs@smfm.org, Pacheco LD, Saade G, Hankins GD, Clark SL
Am J Obstet Gynecol 2016 Aug;215(2):B16-24. Epub 2016 Mar 14 doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2016.03.012. PMID: 26987420

Therapy

Haemostatic support in postpartum haemorrhage: A review of the literature and expert opinion.
Hofer S, Blaha J, Collins PW, Ducloy-Bouthors AS, Guasch E, Labate F, Lança F, Nyfløt LT, Steiner K, Van de Velde M
Eur J Anaesthesiol 2023 Jan 1;40(1):29-38. Epub 2022 Sep 22 doi: 10.1097/EJA.0000000000001744. PMID: 36131564Free PMC Article
Post-abortion Complications: A Narrative Review for Emergency Clinicians.
Bridwell RE, Long B, Montrief T, Gottlieb M
West J Emerg Med 2022 Oct 23;23(6):919-925. doi: 10.5811/westjem.2022.8.57929. PMID: 36409940Free PMC Article
Anesthesia for Obstetric Disasters.
Fardelmann KL, Alian AA
Anesthesiol Clin 2020 Mar;38(1):85-105. doi: 10.1016/j.anclin.2019.10.005. PMID: 32008659
Amniotic fluid embolism: diagnosis and management.
Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM). Electronic address: pubs@smfm.org, Pacheco LD, Saade G, Hankins GD, Clark SL
Am J Obstet Gynecol 2016 Aug;215(2):B16-24. Epub 2016 Mar 14 doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2016.03.012. PMID: 26987420
ARDS in pregnancy.
Duarte AG
Clin Obstet Gynecol 2014 Dec;57(4):862-70. doi: 10.1097/GRF.0000000000000067. PMID: 25314088

Prognosis

Association of Pregnancy Characteristics and Maternal Mortality With Amniotic Fluid Embolism.
Mazza GR, Youssefzadeh AC, Klar M, Kunze M, Matsuzaki S, Mandelbaum RS, Ouzounian JG, Matsuo K
JAMA Netw Open 2022 Nov 1;5(11):e2242842. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.42842. PMID: 36399343Free PMC Article
Pulmonary Embolism and Amniotic Fluid Embolism.
Coggins AS, Gomez E, Sheffield JS
Obstet Gynecol Clin North Am 2022 Sep;49(3):439-460. doi: 10.1016/j.ogc.2022.02.015. PMID: 36122978
Maternal, Labor, Delivery, and Perinatal Outcomes Associated with Placental Abruption: A Systematic Review.
Downes KL, Grantz KL, Shenassa ED
Am J Perinatol 2017 Aug;34(10):935-957. Epub 2017 Mar 22 doi: 10.1055/s-0037-1599149. PMID: 28329897Free PMC Article
Amniotic Fluid Embolism.
Sundin CS, Mazac LB
MCN Am J Matern Child Nurs 2017 Jan/Feb;42(1):29-35. doi: 10.1097/NMC.0000000000000292. PMID: 27755062
Amniotic fluid embolism.
Gist RS, Stafford IP, Leibowitz AB, Beilin Y
Anesth Analg 2009 May;108(5):1599-602. doi: 10.1213/ane.0b013e31819e43a4. PMID: 19372342

Clinical prediction guides

Echocardiography findings in amniotic fluid embolism: a systematic review of the literature.
Wiseman D, Simard C, Yang SS, Koolian M, Abenhaim HA, Lipes J
Can J Anaesth 2023 Jan;70(1):151-160. Epub 2022 Oct 28 doi: 10.1007/s12630-022-02343-9. PMID: 36307749
Amniotic fluid embolism rescued by venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.
Aissi James S, Klein T, Lebreton G, Nizard J, Chommeloux J, Bréchot N, Pineton de Chambrun M, Hékimian G, Luyt CE, Levy B, Kimmoun A, Combes A, Schmidt M
Crit Care 2022 Apr 7;26(1):96. doi: 10.1186/s13054-022-03969-3. PMID: 35392980Free PMC Article
Amniotic fluid embolism syndrome: analysis of the Unites States International Registry.
Stafford IA, Moaddab A, Dildy GA, Klassen M, Berra A, Watters C, Belfort MA, Romero R, Clark SL
Am J Obstet Gynecol MFM 2020 May;2(2):100083. Epub 2020 Jan 9 doi: 10.1016/j.ajogmf.2019.100083. PMID: 33345954Free PMC Article
Cell Salvage in Obstetrics.
Goucher H, Wong CA, Patel SK, Toledo P
Anesth Analg 2015 Aug;121(2):465-8. doi: 10.1213/ANE.0000000000000786. PMID: 26197375
Not only a clinical nightmare: amniotic fluid embolism in court.
Busardo FP, Gulino M, Di Luca NM, Vergallo GM, Pacchiarotti A, Frati P
Curr Pharm Biotechnol 2014;14(14):1195-200. doi: 10.2174/1389201015666140430103312. PMID: 24804728

Recent systematic reviews

Echocardiography findings in amniotic fluid embolism: a systematic review of the literature.
Wiseman D, Simard C, Yang SS, Koolian M, Abenhaim HA, Lipes J
Can J Anaesth 2023 Jan;70(1):151-160. Epub 2022 Oct 28 doi: 10.1007/s12630-022-02343-9. PMID: 36307749
Risk factors for fatality in amniotic fluid embolism: a systematic review and analysis of a data pool.
Indraccolo U, Battistoni C, Mastrantonio I, Di Iorio R, Greco P, Indraccolo SR
J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med 2018 Mar;31(5):661-665. Epub 2017 Mar 1 doi: 10.1080/14767058.2017.1293034. PMID: 28282766
Maternal, Labor, Delivery, and Perinatal Outcomes Associated with Placental Abruption: A Systematic Review.
Downes KL, Grantz KL, Shenassa ED
Am J Perinatol 2017 Aug;34(10):935-957. Epub 2017 Mar 22 doi: 10.1055/s-0037-1599149. PMID: 28329897Free PMC Article
Amniotic fluid embolism: what level of scientific evidence can be drawn? A systematic review.
Frati P, Foldes-Papp Z, Zaami S, Busardo FP
Curr Pharm Biotechnol 2014;14(14):1157-62. doi: 10.2174/1389201015666140430101639. PMID: 24804729
Amniotic fluid embolism incidence, risk factors and outcomes: a review and recommendations.
Knight M, Berg C, Brocklehurst P, Kramer M, Lewis G, Oats J, Roberts CL, Spong C, Sullivan E, van Roosmalen J, Zwart J
BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2012 Feb 10;12:7. doi: 10.1186/1471-2393-12-7. PMID: 22325370Free PMC Article

Supplemental Content

Table of contents

    Clinical resources

    Practice guidelines

    • PubMed
      See practice and clinical guidelines in PubMed. The search results may include broader topics and may not capture all published guidelines. See the FAQ for details.
    • Bookshelf
      See practice and clinical guidelines in NCBI Bookshelf. The search results may include broader topics and may not capture all published guidelines. See the FAQ for details.

    Reviews

    Related information

    • MeSH
      Related Medical Subject Headings
    • PMC Articles
      Related information in PubMed Central Links
    • PubMed
      Related literature resources in PubMed

    Recent activity

    Clear Turn Off Turn On

    Your browsing activity is empty.

    Activity recording is turned off.

    Turn recording back on

    See more...