Observations on the Clotting Defect in Amniotic-Fluid Embolism

Abstract

AMONG the rarer causes of maternal death, pulmonary embolism by amniotic fluid has been the subject of considerable recent interest.1 In most patients with this disorder who survived the period of the delivery itself, hemorrhagic phenomena were noted before death.2 In these women, severe uterine hemorrhage was the rule, and in a few cases, a generalized bleeding tendency was evident.2 3 4 The nature of this hemorrhagic disorder has not been elucidated.Recently, at University Hospitals of Cleveland, a patient was observed in whom profound shock occurred about thirty minutes post partum. She died eleven hours later. At autopsy, emboli of amniotic . . .