Table 2.

Japanese criteria for the diagnosis of amniotic fluid embolism (AFE)

(1) If symptoms appeared during pregnancy or within 12 h of delivery.

(2) If any intensive medical intervention was conducted to treat one or more of the following symptoms/diseases:

(A) Cardiac arrest

(B) Severe bleeding of unknown origin within 2 h of delivery (≥1500 mL)

(C) Disseminated intravascular coagulation

(D) Respiratory failure

(3) If the findings or symptoms cannot be explained by other diseases.

A clinical diagnosis of AFE can be made if the pathological condition meets the above three criteria. Because these diagnostic criteria serve the purpose of making a clinical diagnosis and being able to promptly provide treatment, the pathological conditions that meet them may include those other than AFE.