Maternal deaths from amniotic fluid embolism results from the French confidential enquiry into maternal deaths, 2016 -2018

Amniotic embolism remains the 3rd leading cause of maternal death in France, with 21 maternal deaths over the 2016 -2018 triennium. The women who died were more likely to be obese (25%), to bene fi t from induction of labor (71%) and be cared in a maternity hospital < 1500 deliveries/ year (45%), compared with the reference population (ENP 2016). The symptom occurred mainly during labor (95%) and the course was rapid, with a symptom -to -fatality interval of 4 hours45 minutes (min: 25 minutes - max: 8 days). Preventability was proposed for 35% of the deaths assessed, with areas for improvement identi fi ed in terms of technical skills (haemostasis procedures, management of polytransfusion), non -technical skills (communication) and health care organization (human resources, vital emergency plan, wide access to PSL). An autopsy was performed in 38% of deaths.