Arrêt cardiaque chez la femme enceinte

In pregnant women, cardiac arrest mortality is higher than 85% and fetal mortality is higher than 50%. The main physiological change induced by pregnancy that impairs the efficacy of cardiac resuscitation maneuver is compression of the vena cavae and the aorta by the uterus that needs to be shifted to the left side. The other specific measure is rapid orotracheal intubation with Sellick maneuver due to the risk of inhalation of gastric content. The use of epinephrine is recommended while the administration of bicarbonates worsens fetal acidosis. Cardiac defibrillation is not deleterious for the fetus. Cesarean section needs to be performed as soon as possible to improve cardiac resuscitation efficacy.