ANESTHESIOLOGISTS with a practice in obstetrics must be acutely aware of the differential diagnosis of maternal cardiovascular collapse during pregnancy. The overall risk of maternal death is 6.5 in 100,000 deliveries and typically occurs in the third trimester.1 Deaths in the first and second trimesters are rare. The most common etiologies include pre-eclampsia (16%), amniotic fluid embolism (AFE) (14%), hemorrhage (12%), cardiac disease (11%), and pulmonary thromboembolism (9%). Less common etiologies include infection, medication error, and ectopic pregnancy.
