Amniotic fluid embolism: A comparison of two classification systems in a retrospective 8-year analysis from two tertiary hospitals

Objective: Amniotic fluid embolism (AFE) is a rare life-threatening complication in obstetrics, but the diagnosis lacks a consensual definition. The objective of this study was to compare two different AFE classification systems by analysing the AFE cases from two university hospitals.

Material and methods: In this retrospective study, all patients with a strong suspicion of AFE between 2014 and 2021 at two university hospitals, LMU Women's University Hospital Munich, and Women's University Hospital Basel, were included. Patient records were checked for the ICD-10 code O88.1 (AFE). Diagnoses were confirmed through clinical findings and/or autopsy. The presence of the diagnostic criteria of the Society of Maternal foetal Medicine (SMFM) and the AFE Foundation (AFEF) and of a new framework by Ponzio-Klijanienko et al. from Paris, France, were checked and compared using Chi-square-test.

Results: Within our study period, 38,934 women delivered in the two hospitals. Six patients had a strong suspicion of AFE (0.015%). Only three of six patients (50%) presented with all the four diagnostic criteria of the SMFM/AFEF framework. All six patients met the criteria of the modified "Paris AFE framework".

Conclusion: Using the "Paris AFE framework" based exclusively on clinical criteria can help clinicians to diagnose AFE, anticipate the life-threatening condition of the patient and prepare immediately for best clinical care.