Publication | Closed Access
Perimortem Cesarean Delivery
309
Citations
0
References
1987
Year
Neonatal ResuscitationCesarean HealthPostmortem Cesarean DeliverySuccessful Maternal ResuscitationCesarean DeliveryMedicinePerimortem Cesarean DeliveryMaternal HealthVaginal DeliveryCaesarean SectionObstetricsSurgeryFetal DistressTraumatic Cardiac ArrestPrehospital ResuscitationCardiologyEmergency Medicine
Postmortem cesarean delivery, practiced since antiquity, historically faced low infant survival and negative opinions, but reviews indicate that initiating the procedure within four minutes of maternal cardiac arrest optimizes infant survival. The authors review fetal physiology and past cases, analyze cardiopulmonary resuscitation physiology during pregnancy, and conclude that initiating cesarean delivery within four minutes of maternal cardiac arrest is optimal. Data indicate that initiating perimortem cesarean delivery within four minutes of maternal cardiac arrest maximizes maternal survival and carries minimal legal liability.
Postmortem cesarean delivery is an operation that has been practiced since antiquity. In previous centuries low infant survival rates led to negative opinions regarding the operation's usefulness. A review of the past centuries' cases and a review of fetal physiology suggest that to obtain optimum infant survival, cesarean delivery should be initiated within four minutes of maternal cardiac arrest. The physiology of cardiopulmonary resuscitation during pregnancy is analyzed, and recent cases of maternal cardiac arrest with successful maternal resuscitation are reviewed. This data suggests that perimortem cesarean delivery initiated within four minutes of maternal cardiac arrest will yield the highest rates of maternal survival. Legal liability from the operation is minimal.