Amniotic Fluid Embolism.

ABSTRACT

Amniotic Fluid Embolism (AFE) is a potentially fatal rare obstetric complication. In this paper, the death of a 30-year old apparently healthy parturient due to AFE is reported. She underwent Lower Segment Caesarean Section (LSCS) under spinal anaesthesia but after about half an hour of the operative procedure, she developed features of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) and shock, and died within five hours of the onset of the symptoms. The sudden death of an apparently healthy parturient may lead to medical negligence claims by the relatives. In developing countries, it still remains a post-mortem diagnosis and in the present case, histopathological examination findings helped in coming to a conclusive opinion of AFE.