[Amniotic fluid embolism - review].

UNLABELLED: Amniotic fluid embolism is a rare but mortal pregnancy complication. Presentations may vary from subtle clinical events to sudden cardiac arrest or death. Amniotic fluid embolism is one of the most common cause of maternal mortality in developed countries. Basic principle is amniotic fluid and its particles gaining access to maternal circulation. It is supposed, that these particles trigger immune-based mechanism. This results into wide spectrum of clinical symptoms, especially cardiovascular, respiratory and haematological. Treatment of these symptoms needs an acute interdisciplinary cooperation. AFE mortality is decreasing in recent times. It is mainly because of increase of quality of intensive care and inclusion of less severe episodes in perinatal pathology registries. KEYWORDS: amniotic fluid embolism, anaphylactic shock, sepsis.