We got to sit down with Catherine and dive into her Amniotic Fluid Embolism ECMO survivor journey today. What an INSPIRATION!

A little about Amniotic fluid embolism (AFE):

💡It is an anaphylactoid reaction due to exposure of amniotic fluid to the maternal circulation as well as physical obstruction of the pulmonary vasculature.

❇️ A life-threatening condition that requires prompt resuscitation.

❇️ A rare obstetric complication with a mortality rate of 10-86%.

❇️ Accounts for 8-10% of all maternal deaths in Western countries.

❇️ AFE can develop during active labor, delivery, and even immediate post-partum.

The early utilization of ECMO for AFE after its timely recognition may help improve patient mortality and morbidity. [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chest.2023.07.242]

Catherine’s message to the global ECMO community of clinicians:

📌 “You saved my life. Granted the Lord worked through your hands, but I credit you and your devotion and skill. You’ve taken the time to learn this highly complicated circuit. From my perspective, you’re the reason that I get to be a mom, and a wife, a sister and a daughter. I went from a stay-at-home mom to being disabled in a matter of minutes. All of that is shocking and hard. But even in that shocking and hard, you guys really are life savers. You’re allowing people to get back to their families. That is one of the biggest gifts that you can give another person.”

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