ABSTRACT
This chapter describes the common causes of postpartum cardiac arrest, and explains management strategies for the care of postpartum patients who are unstable or who have cardiac arrest. Managing cardiac arrest in the postpartum patient is like that in the nonpregnant patient. Knowing the common causes of postpartum maternal cardiac arrest (MCA) allows the healthcare team to focus on the most likely etiology of arrest and promotes a focused evaluation during the assessment or primary and secondary surveys in the ED. There are unique signs, symptoms, and diagnostic considerations when caring for a postpartum patient in cardiac arrest that differ from care during pregnancy. The chapter discusses some of the most common causes of MCA in the postpartum period and reviews treatment strategies for the unstable postpartum patient and the postpartum patient in cardiac arrest. Aggressive fluid and blood replacement is recommended if MCA results from postpartum hemorrhage.
