A CASE OF AMNIOTIC-FLUID EMBOLISM WITH FA VORABLE TIME-COURSE

A 31-year-old multiparous pregnant woman forced into labour with oxyto cin, suffered a sudden circulatory collapse and, after the birth of he r child, a defibrination syndrome with uterine haemorrhage. In the abs ence of a local cause, either placental or cervico-uterine, a diagnosi s of amniotic fluid embolism was made. The time course was favourable, mainly thanks to the absence of acute pulmonary cardiogenic oedema an d to the use of an anti-shock G suit. The authors point out the lack o f actual in vivo paraclinical means for confirming the diagnosis.