A patient surviving cardiac arrest caused by acute massive pulmonary embolisms during cesarean section with complications of severe respiratory tract and abdominal hemorrhage, and heparin-induced thrombocytopenia

Abstract

Deep venous thromboses are more likely to develop during pregnancy. A 39-year-old woman developed acute massive pulmonary embolisms and cardiac arrest during cesarean section. She was resuscitated with percutaneous cardiopulmonary support (PCPS). Heparin was continuously administered for anticoagulation. Thromboses in the pulmonary arteries were fragmented using a balloon catheter. She developed severe hemorrhage from the respiratory tract and abdominal cavity, and the hemorrhage was controlled by keeping the activating clotting time low. In addition to these complications, heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) occurred after withdrawal of PCPS and was treated with argatroban. She subsequently recovered without any complications and achieved full rehabilitation.