Abstract
Amniotic fluid embolism (AFE) is a rare pregnancy complication associated with high maternal mortality that occurs during labor or in the early postpartum period. The diagnosis of AFE is challenging because signs and symptoms are common to other obstetric complications. Early identification and management of profound coagulopathy associated with AFE is essential to improve patient survival. We present a case of a 31-year-old woman with placenta previa and clinical suspicion of AFE after cesarean section. Immediately after delivery, the parturient presented hypotension, hypoxia, coagulopathy, and severe postpartum hemorrhage. We hereby discuss the role of the most recently developed point-of-care viscoelastic testing device, the Quantra QStat(®) system (Stago Group Company; HemoSonics LLC, Durham, NC), for early detection of acute obstetric coagulopathy and guided hemostatic treatment.