Irreversible maternal brain injury during pregnancy: a case report and review of the literature

Obstet Gynecol Surv. 2000 Nov;55(11):708-14. doi: 10.1097/00006254-200011000-00023.

Abstract

Maternal brain death or massive injury leading to persistent vegetative state during pregnancy is a rare event. Since 1979, 11 cases, including the current one, of irreversible maternal brain damage in pregnancy have been reported. In all but one, the pregnancies were prolonged with a goal of achieving delivery of a viable infant. Current advances in medicine and critical care enable today's physician to offer prolonged life-support to maximize the chances for survival in the neonate whose mother is technically brain dead. We present a case at our institution and review all previously published cases in the English literature for comparison as well as make management recommendations.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Algorithms
  • Brain Death*
  • Cerebral Arterial Diseases / diagnosis*
  • Ethics, Medical
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Life Support Care
  • Middle Cerebral Artery*
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular / diagnosis*
  • Pregnancy Outcome
  • Proxy
  • Tissue Donors