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Anaphylactic Shock in a Pregnant Woman

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Abstract

Anaphylaxis is a rare life-threatening event in pregnancy and delivery with rapid onset. It is characterized by sudden hypotension, upper airway obstruction, and/or bronchospasm with or without skin manifestation. It has been reported following administration of various substances, most commonly drugs, with adverse maternal and, especially, neonatal consequences. Important initial prompt management includes injection of epinephrine (adrenaline), high-flow oxygen supplementation, positioning the mother on her left side, fluid replacement, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and continuous electronic fetal monitoring. Emergency cesarean delivery should be performed when indicated. H1 antihistamines, H2 antihistamines, other vasopressors, and glucocorticoids are not initial medications of choice, but required if hemodynamic instability persists.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, G. R. Medical College, Gwalior, MP, India

    Veena Agrawal MD, MICOG

  2. Faculty of Human Genetics, Jiwaji University, Gwalior, MP, India

    Veena Agrawal MD, MICOG

  3. Agrawal Hospital & Research Institute, Gwalior, MP, India

    Veena Agrawal MD, MICOG

Authors
  1. Veena Agrawal MD, MICOG
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Veena Agrawal MD, MICOG .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Arihant Women’s Hospital, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India

    Alpesh Gandhi

  2. Global Rainbow Healthcare, Agra, India

    Narendra Malhotra

  3. Art Rainbow-IVF, Agra, India

    Jaideep Malhotra

  4. Obsetrics and Gynecology, SN Medical College, Agra, India

    Nidhi Gupta

  5. Bharti Vidya Peethmedical College, Pune, India

    Neharika Malhotra Bora

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Agrawal, V. (2016). Anaphylactic Shock in a Pregnant Woman. In: Gandhi, A., Malhotra, N., Malhotra, J., Gupta, N., Bora, N. (eds) Principles of Critical Care in Obstetrics. Springer, New Delhi. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-81-322-2692-5_22

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-81-322-2692-5_22

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, New Delhi

  • Print ISBN: 978-81-322-2690-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-81-322-2692-5

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