RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Avoiding caesarean section in maternal hypothermia associated with marked fetal distress
JF Emergency Medicine Journal
JO Emerg Med J
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and the British Association for Accident & Emergency Medicine
SP 177
OP 177
DO 10.1136/emj.2007.053264
VO 25
IS 3
A1 S Bose Usman
A1 V Menon
YR 2008
UL http://emj.bmj.com/content/25/3/177.abstract
AB A 37-weeks pregnant woman was admitted to the accident and emergency department with hypothermia following possible drug misuse. Although her pulse and blood pressure were normal, her fetus was found to have marked bradycardia. This caused anxiety and quick transfer of the unconscious and still hypothermic woman to the maternity unit. The baby was, however, not immediately delivered by caesarean section. Instead, rewarming of the mother was undertaken, which produced a rise in fetal heart rate as the maternal temperature rose. A healthy baby was eventually born after spontaneous labour. This report discusses the effects of hypothermia on the body and fetus. It also discusses the rationale for delaying delivery of baby until hypothermia is corrected.