Obstetric emergencies

The two most recent Confidential Enquiries into Maternal and Child Health reports, examining Maternal Mortality in the UK, demonstrate that haemorrhage, hypertensive disease, amniotic fluid embolus and sepsis remain the most important direct causes of death after thromboembolic disease. Cardiac disease is the most important indirect cause of maternal death. Substandard care is adjudged to have contributed to more than 50% of all maternal deaths, and the reports highlight the importance of multidisciplinary care. This article addresses some of the key issues in the management of obstetric emergencies and emphasizes the importance of multidisciplinary teamwork and fire drills.