Postcesarean Pulmonary Embolism, Sustained Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, Embolectomy, and Near-Death Experience
Alan T. Marty, Frank L. Hilton, Robert K. Spear, Bruce Greyson
Obstetrics and Gynecology November 1, 2005 DOI: 10.1097/01.aog.0000164054.53501.96 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Case report Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 1 |
| Population | A woman one day post-cesarean delivery |
| Interventions | Femoral-femoral cardiopulmonary bypass embolectomy |
| Topics | Near-death experience |
| Keywords | Cardiopulmonary resuscitation Pulmonary embolism Embolectomy Anesthesia Intensive care medicine Cardiology |
| Citations | 12 |
| Key findings | Massive pulmonary embolism after cesarean delivery can be successfully treated with embolectomy during continuous cardiopulmonary resuscitation. |
Abstract
Background: Survival after surgical embolectomy for massive postcesarean pulmonary embolism causing sustained cardiac arrest is rare. CASE: One day after an uneventful cesarean delivery, a woman developed cardiac asystole and apnea due to pulmonary embolism. Femoral-femoral cardiopulmonary bypass performed during continuous cardiopulmonary resuscitation allowed a successful embolectomy. Upon awakening, the patient reported a near-death experience. Pulmonary embolism causes approximately 2 deaths per 100,000 live births per year in the United States, and postcesarean pulmonary embolism is probably more common than pulmonary embolism after vaginal delivery.
Conclusion: Massive pulmonary embolism is a potentially treatable catastrophic event after cesarean delivery, even if continuous cardiopulmonary resuscitation is required until life-saving embolectomy is done.
Comparable studies
Other case reports and case series on near-death experience, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Near-Death Experiences in India Individuals in India who reported near-death experiences | 1986 | Case study | n = 16 |
| The Near-Death Experience as a Focus of Clinical Attention Patients presenting with near-death experience-related problems | 1997 | Case study | n = 4 |
| A prospectively studied near-death experience with corroborated out-of-body perceptions and unexplained healing. A person who had a near-death experience | 2006 | Case report | n = 1 |
| Verified account of near-death experience in a physician who survived cardiac arrest. A 32-year-old female physician experiencing childbirth | 2020 | Case study | n = 1 |
| This is your brain on death: a comparative analysis of a near-death experience and subsequent 5-Methoxy-DMT experience. An individual who had a near-death experience during a coma caused by bacterial... | 2023 | Case study | n = 1 |
Citations in the library
Cites 4
- Near-death experience in survivors of cardiac arrest: a prospective study in the Netherlands The Lancet December 1, 2001
- The Near-Death Experience Scale The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease June 1, 1983
- Varieties of anomalous experience: Examining the scientific evidence. American Psychological Association eBooks 2000
- A Review of the Nonmedical Use of Ketamine: Use, Users and Consequences Journal of Psychoactive Drugs December 1, 2000