ABSTRACT
Amniotic fluid embolism (AFE) is a catastrophic complication of pregnancy and the second leading cause of maternal death within the first 24 hours after delivery, followed by postpartum hemorrhage. The condition was first described 100 years ago1 and subsequently attributed to embolization of amniotic fluid into the maternal pulmonary circulation.2 This mechanical explanation has been questioned because the amount of amniotic material found in the lungs is considered insufficient to explain abrupt cardiovascular collapse, experimental infusion of filtered amniotic fluid in animals has not reliably reproduced the syndrome, and an anaphylactoid mechanism lacks an identified allergen.3,4