Live birth after perimortem cesarean delivery in a 36-year-old out-of-hospital cardiac arrest nulliparous woman

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study is to share a valuable experience of perimortem Cesarean delivery (PMCD) when no signs of spontaneous circulation were detected after 4 min of resuscitation. The time interval between maternal cardiac arrest and neonatal delivery was evaluated and reviewed. Case report: We present the case of an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) in a nulliparous woman who survived a car accident with only seatbelt injuries. The term infant was delivered by PMCD at our emergency department at least 43 min after maternal cardiac arrest. The mother only had concussion and was healthy at the time of discharge. The infant survived but had moderate neurological growth impairment (cerebral palsy) at the age of 7 months. Conclusion: Contrary to previous studies and case reports, maternal and neonatal outcomes seem to be better when performing PMCD within 10 min. Multidisciplinary teamwork is the key for optimal outcomes in such situations. Keywords: Cardiac arrest, Perimortem cesarean section, Pregnancy, Resuscitation