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  • Title: Hypernatremia due to amniotic fluid embolism during a saline-induced abortion.
    Author: Mirchandani HG, Mirchandani IH, Parikh SR.
    Journal: Am J Forensic Med Pathol; 1988 Mar; 9(1):48-50. PubMed ID: 3354524.
    Abstract:
    A case of fatal amniotic fluid embolism leading to hypernatremia during a hypertonic saline-induced abortion is reported. This sequence of events has not, to our knowledge, been previously reported. Hypernatremia as a diagnostic aid for amniotic fluid embolism is discussed. A case of fatal amniotic fluid embolism leading to hypernatremia following instillation of hypertonic saline is reported. This complication of saline-induced abortion has not been reported previously in the literature. The patient was an obese 16-year-old black female, gravida 1, para 0, whose gestational age at time of abortion was 21.5 weeks. 26 hours after the procedure, which was well tolerated by the patient, she complained of severe abdominal cramps with projectile expulsion of amniotic fluid. Generalized convulsions and shaking followed and the patient went into shock. Death occurred within 2 hours. At autopsy, microscopic examination of lungs revealed pulmonary edema with marked vascular congestion, focal areas of atelectasis, and intra-alveolar hemorrhages. Positive test results for mucin in a few pulmonary vessels and intra-alveolar capillaries confirmed a diagnosis of amniotic fluid embolism. There was marked congestion of the blood vessels of the kidneys, liver, brain, and spleen. Amniotic fluid embolism represents about 10% of the maternal mortality in the US; however, this complication generally occurs during labor, delivery, and the immediate postpartum period. Moreover, most such cases occur in older, multiparous women in the 3rd trimester of pregnancy. It is possible that hypernatremia following amniotic fluid embolism occurs more frequently than reported. Routine examination of blood during pregnancy and of the vitreous humor in cases of pregnancy-related mortality could be useful in establishing a diagnosis of amniotic fluid embolism.
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