Perimortem Cesarean Delivery Following Severe Maternal Penetrating Injury: Case Report

Abstract

A ease is described for severely traumatized pregnant patient whom perimortem eesarean section in the emergeney department led to the birth of viable infants with one long-term survivor. We report a postmortem cesarean section resulting in fetal survival, performed after 45 minutes of maternal cardiopulmonary resuscitation in a patient with multiple penetrating injuries. A 27-year-old primigravida suffered eardiopulmonary arrest at 34 weeks' gestation after multiple knife injury. Although extensive advaneed eardiopulmonary resuscitation had been performed for 45 minutes, her vital signs did not return to normal levels. A low segment eesarean delivery is performed, and a female baby was delivered. The time interval between eardiopulmonary arrest and delivery, prior maternal health status, and eontinued eardiopulmonary resuscitation represent important determinants of [etal survivaL. Perimortem eesarean section is advised also in case of multiple penetrating injuries even after 45 minutes of cardiopulmonary resuseitation sinee it may result in fetal salvage.