Mismanagement of Amniotic Fluid Embolism Leading to Serious Injury or Death

While the birth of a baby is often a joyous event for parents, welcoming their little one into the world, sometimes it is overshadowed by serious complications. There are many different complications that can occur during the labor and delivery of a baby. Some injuries can seriously harm the mother, while others can seriously harm the infant. Sometimes, a complication can cause serious harm to both the mother and her baby. One example of a serious complication that can harm both mother and baby is an amniotic fluid embolism leading to serious injury or death. 

This serious complication can even cause infant death or maternal death. While amniotic fluid embolisms cannot always be prevented, if they are not urgently managed appropriately and result in serious harm or even wrongful death, it is considered to be medical malpractice due to negligence. Ask a medical malpractice lawyer in Oregon how your case could be caused by the reckless or negligent conduct of a healthcare provider.

Why Do Amniotic Fluid Embolisms Happen?

An amniotic fluid embolism occurs when amniotic fluid (the fluid that surrounds the baby while in utero) or fetal cells enter the mother’s bloodstream. This complication occurs during delivery or immediately after. While it is not entirely known the exact cause, one possible cause includes trauma during delivery, causing breakdown of the placental barrier which then causing an immune response, causing abnormal clotting the mother’s blood vessels and lungs. 

Risk Factors for Amniotic Fluid Embolism

While the occurrence of an amniotic fluid embolism is rare (occurring in 1 to 12 deliveries out of 100,000 (mayo clinic), there are some risk factors that may place a mother at risk for an amniotic fluid embolism. These risk factors include the following:

• Placental abnormalities 
• Preeclampsia
• Advanced maternal age
• Operative delivery (i.e. c-section, vacuum extractor, or forceps)
• Low amniotic fluid levels
• Induced labor

Signs and Symptoms of Amniotic Fluid Embolism

Signs and symptoms of the condition include the following:

• Seizures
• Pulmonary edema
• Sudden decrease in blood pressure
• Severe anxiety or agitation
• Nausea/vomiting
• Uterine bleeding
• Bleeding from an intravenous site or c-section site
• Change in mental status
• Shortness of breath
• Chills
• Tachycardia
• Fetal distress

Complications of Amniotic Fluid Embolism

Complications of amniotic fluid embolism include the following:

• Infant death
• Maternal death
• Cardiac arrest
• Fetal distress
• Organ failure
• Brain injury
• Damage to pituitary gland

How Can Mismanagement of Amniotic Fluid Embolism Lead to Injury or Death?

The mortality rate of amniotic fluid embolisms is unfortunately high. However, just because there is a high mortality rate, does not mean that mismanagement of the condition or failure to diagnose the condition cannot contribute to the death or injury of you or your loved one. Examples as to how mismanagement of amniotic fluid embolism can lead to serious injury or death include the following:

• Failure to diagnose an amniotic fluid embolism
• Failure to properly treat an amniotic fluid embolism
• Delay in performing a c-section – Failure to deliver the baby in a timely manner can lead to death of the newborn

These are just a few of the many ways in which medical malpractice can contribute to serious injury or death of a woman with an amniotic fluid embolism. 

Call Our Lawyer When an Amniotic Fluid Embolism Leading to Serious Injury or Death in Oregon

If you or a loved one have been seriously injured or killed as a result of medical malpractice contact the Oregon Medical Malpractice Lawyers at Kuhlman Law at our number below or fill out the intake form.  We offer a free initial case evaluation and handle cases on a contingency fee which means that you pay no money unless we recover.

Our law firm handles cases throughout the state including Bend and Portland Oregon, Redmond, Central Oregon, Sisters, Madras, Multnomah County, Deschutes County, Salem, Eugene, Corvallis, Lane County, Medford, Gresham, La Grande, Albany, Medford, Beaverton, Umatilla, Pendleton,  Cottage Grove, Florence, Oregon City, Springfield, Keizer, Grants Pass, McMinnville, Tualatin, West Linn, Forest Grove, Wilsonville, Newberg, Roseburg, Lake Oswego, Klamath Falls, Happy Valley, Tigard, Ashland, Milwakie, Coos Bay, The Dalles,  St. Helens, Sherwood, Central Point, Canby, Troutdale, Hermiston, Silverton, Hood River, Newport, Prineville, Astoria, Tillamook, Lincoln City, Hillsboro, and Vancouver, Washington.

We also have an office in Minneapolis, Minnesota and take medical malpractice cases throughout the Twin Cities, including St. Paul, Hennepin County, Ramsey County, Dakota County, Washington County, Anoka County, Scott County, Blaine, Stillwater, and Saint Paul Minnesota.