Korean Journal of Critical Care Medicine  2016;31(4):359-363

doi:10.4266/kjccm.2016.00325

Successful Hysterectomy and Therapeutic Hypothermia Following Cardiac Arrest due to Postpartum Hemorrhage.

Kwang Ho LEE ; Seong Jin CHOI ; Yeong Gwan JEON ; Raing Kyu KIM ; Dae Ja UM

Keywords

cardiac arrest; hypothermia; placenta accreta; postpartum hemorrhage

Country

Republic of Korea

Language

English

Abstract

Postpartum hemorrhage is a common cause of maternal mortality; its main cause is placenta accreta. Therapeutic hypothermia is a generally accepted means of improving clinical signs in postcardiopulmonary resuscitation patients. A 41-year-old pregnant woman underwent a cesarean section under general anesthesia at 37 weeks of gestation. After the cesarean section, the patient experienced massive postpartum bleeding, which led to cardiac arrest. Once spontaneous circulation returned, the patient underwent an emergency hysterectomy and was placed under therapeutic hypothermia management. The patient recovered without neurological complications.