Irreversible maternal brain injury during pregnancy: A case report and review of the literature

Maternal brain death or massive injury leading to persistent vegetative sta te during pregnancy is a rare event. Since 1979, 11 cases, including the cu rrent one, of irreversible maternal brain damage in pregnancy have been rep orted. In all but one, the pregnancies were prolonged with a goal of achiev ing delivery of a viable infant. Current advances in medicine and critical care enable today's physician to offer prolonged life-support to maximize t he chances for survival in the neonate whose mother is technically brain de ad. We present a case at our institution and review all previously publishe d cases in the English literature for comparison as well as make management recommendations. Target Audience: Obstetrics & Gynecologists, Family Physicians Learning Objectives: After completion of this article, the reader will be a ble to outline the legal and ethical considerations of a patient with fatal maternal brain injury, list the common complications in a patient with fat al maternal brain injury, and describe the management of these complication s.