Anest. intenziv. Med. 2023;34(4):147-151 | DOI: 10.36290/aim.2023.052

Incidence of amniotic fluid embolism in the Czech Republic - a questionnaire studyOriginal Article

Pešková K.^{1, 3}, Štourač P.^2-4, Seidlová D.^{1, 3}

¹ II. anesteziologicko resuscitační oddělení, Fakultní nemocnice Brno

² Klinika dětské anesteziologie a resuscitace, Fakultní nemocnice Brno

³ Lékařská fakulta Masarykovy univerzity, Brno

⁴ Ústav simulační medicíny, Lékařská fakulta Masarykovy univerzity, Brno

Aims of the study: to determine the incidence of amniotic fluid embolism in the Czech Republic and the availability of immediate transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) examination in the departments performing obstetric anesthesia and intensive care. Study type: multicentre questionnaire study.

Methods: All 87 anesthetics departments performing obstetric anesthesia in the Czech Republic were invited to complete an online questionnaire on the period 2018-2020. The data collection took place from September to December 2021.

Results: 42 departments (collectively responsible for 52% of all births in the Czech Republic) responded to the invitation. In total, 8 cases of amniotic fluid embolism were recorded at these departments over the study period; of these, one patient died and seven survived without permanent sequelae. No immunological diagnostics was performed. Echocardiography was used for diagnosis in 25 % of cases. 23 % of the responding departments do have internal guidelines for the management of suspected amniotic fluid embolism ready and 50 % can provide emergency bedside TTE examination.

Conclusions: The incidence of amniotic fluid embolism in the Czech Republic in 2018-2020 ranged between 1.7 and 6.7/ 100 000 labours in the respective years. In all, eight cases were recorded, one of which was fatal.

Keywords: amniotic fluid embolism, incidence, echocardiography.

Received: July 20, 2023; Revised: October 29, 2023; Accepted: November 3, 2023; Prepublished online: November 30, 2023; Published: December 15, 2023  Show citation