Cardiopulmonary arrest in the pregnant woman

Abstract

It is not common for a woman to suffer a cardiac arrest during pregnancy, but when it occurs it can be devastating for both mother and fetus. To improve the likelihood of a positive outcome for the mother and the fetus, the midwife should be skilled in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). This includes early recognition, early basic life support and early defibrillation until appropriately qualified healthcare professionals can start with advanced life support (ALS). Although CPR during pregnancy is based on the standard method used in adults, some modifications need to be made due to the unique needs of the pregnant woman and her fetus depending on the stage of pregnancy and cause of collapse. In this article the basic principles of CPR is reinforced, as applied to the pregnant woman.