A 35-year-old pregnant woman presenting with sudden cardiac arrest secondary to peripartum cardiomyopathy

Prehosp Emerg Care. 2012 Apr-Jun;16(2):299-302. doi: 10.3109/10903127.2011.615010. Epub 2011 Sep 27.

Abstract

We present a case of successful resuscitation from cardiac arrest after 25 minutes of ventricular fibrillation (VF) secondary to peripartum cardiomyopathy. This case highlights a rare disease, but also, more importantly, the successful use of the five links of survival: early access to 9-1-1, early cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), early defibrillation, early advanced life support, and postresuscitative care. We also demonstrate the importance of high-quality resuscitation practices in order to achieve a successful outcome. Manual compressions can be performed at a guidelines-compliant rate. With training, users are able to achieve high compression fractions. Pre/post shock delays can be minimized to further increase compression fraction. Nationally, CPR interruptions are often long. We recommend closer attention to uninterrupted 2-minute cycles of CPR, minimizing delays in CPR through training, and a focus on a closely choreographed approach. User review of transthoracic impedance feedback data should play a vital role in a cardiac arrest quality-improvement program.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / complications*
  • Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / therapy
  • Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation / methods*
  • Cesarean Section*
  • Death, Sudden, Cardiac / etiology*
  • Electric Countershock
  • Emergencies
  • Emergency Medical Services / methods*
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Male
  • Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest / etiology
  • Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest / therapy
  • Peripartum Period
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular / diagnosis
  • Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular / therapy*
  • Pregnancy Outcome
  • Pregnancy Trimester, Third
  • Risk Assessment
  • Ventricular Fibrillation / complications
  • Ventricular Fibrillation / diagnosis
  • Ventricular Fibrillation / therapy