Presentation

>  AFE typically occurs during labour or delivery, or immediately postpartum, but has occurred during termination of pregnancy, after abdominal trauma, and during amnioinfusion or amniocentesis(Moore & Smith 2009)

>  The woman is often conscious at the onset of symptoms. Not all AFE is rapidly progressive and early diagnosis and supportive treatment may result in better outcomes

>  Acute shivering, sweating, anxiety and coughing, followed by respiratory distress, altered mental status, seizure or seizure-like activity and cardiovascular collapse (profound hypotension, tachycardia and possible arrhythmias)

>  More than 80 % of women with AFE experience cardio-respiratory arrest within the first few minutes (Perozi & Englert 2004)

>  Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) can occur quickly, causing massive maternal haemorrhage

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