Postcesarean Pulmonary Embolism, Sustained Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, Embolectomy, and Near-Death Experience
Obstetrics and Gynecology November 1, 2005 Alan T. Marty, Frank L. Hilton, Robert K. Spear et al. 12 citations
Survival after surgical removal of a massive blood clot from the lungs (embolectomy) following a cesarean delivery that causes sustained cardiac arrest is rare. In this case, a woman went into cardiac arrest and stopped breathing one day after an uncomplicated cesarean due to a pulmonary embolism. While continuous cardiopulmonary resuscitation was performed, doctors used a heart-lung machine connected to the leg vessels to allow successful removal of the clot. After waking, the patient reported a near-death experience. Pulmonary embolism causes about 2 deaths per 100,000 live births per year in the United States, and it is probably more common after cesarean than vaginal delivery. Massive pulmonary embolism after cesarean delivery can be treated even if continuous CPR is needed until embolectomy.