A successfully treated case of cardiac arrest after Caesarean section complicated by pheochromocytoma crisis and amniotic fluid embolism

Both pheochromocytoma and amniotic fluid embolism (AFE) are important causes of maternal mortality. We present a case of a 29-year-old woman who developed cardiac arrest after Caesarean section, complicated by both pheochromocytoma crisis and AFE. After resuscitation, the patient developed multiple organ dysfunction, rhabdomyolysis and disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). After institution of multidisciplinary interventions (including the use of an intra-aortic balloon pump, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, continuous hemodiafiltration, and neuroprotective therapeutic hypothermia) the patient made a full recovery without any apparent neurological deficit.