MONTREAL, Oct. 20 (UPI) -- A Canadian population-based cohort study has found a medical induction of labor increases the risk of amniotic-fluid embolism.
Study leader Dr. Michael Kramer, a Canadian Institutes of Health Research senior investigator from McGill University, said amniotic-fluid embolism, of AFE, is a rare but serious and sometimes fatal maternal complication of delivery. Its cause is unknown; it is one of the leading causes of maternal mortality in developed countries, accounting for seven of 44 direct maternal deaths in Canada in the period 1997-2000.
"AFE remains a rare occurrence," said Kramer. "Of the 180 cases of AFE we found, 24, or 13 percent, were fatal. AFE arose almost twice as frequently in women who had medical induction of labor as in those who did not; fatal cases arose 3.5 times more frequently."
The research team also found several other factors to be associated with higher rates of AFE, including multiple pregnancy, older maternal age -- 35 years or older -- Caesarean or instrumental vaginal delivery, eclampsia -- a serious complication of pregnancy characterized by convulsions -- polyhydramnios -- too much amniotic fluid -- abnormal placental position or separation and cervical laceration or uterine rupture.
The findings are published in The Lancet.
