Severe maternal morbidity is frequently associated with catastrophic complications of pregnancy such as amniotic fluid embolism (AFE) or sepsis due to chorioamnionitis. The authors report a case of postpartum maternal hypoxic encephalopathy that might be attributed to AFE or sepsis due to chorioamnionitis with Escherichia coli bacteremia, and review the relevant literature. The patient presented with preterm labor, underwent Cesarean section for intrauterine fetal demise, and experienced postpartum cardiopulmonary collapse and disseminated intravascular coagulation, which led to catastrophic postpartum maternal encephalopathy.

The lumbar discectomy is the surgery with low morbidity itself and need the prone position, which is essential for this surgery. However, the increased intra-abdominal pressure after changing supine to prone position may lead intra-abdominal hypertension or abdominal compartment syndrome, consequently acute mesenteric ischemia. Acute mesenteric ischemia is one of the fatal conditions of acute abdomen with overall mortality of 60% to 100%. Unfortunately, the early detection of mesenteric ischemia in perioperative period of spinal surgery is difficult. We herein report an experience of acute mesenteric ischemia after lumbar discectomy in prone position, and review the relative literatures.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common, benign, and transient type of supraventricular arrhythmia encountered during the early postoperative period after a pulmonary resection. However, it sometimes might result in hemodynamic deterioration. We report on a case of new-onset atrial fibrillation in a 74-year-old male patient after right lower lobectomy, which was not controlled with intermittent bolus injection of esmolol and diltiazem. Successful pharmacological cardioversion was achieved with intravenous (6 mg/hr for 2 hours) followed by oral (90 mg q day) diltiazem 20 hours after this treatment. The literature on the risk factors and management of atrial fibrillation after pulmonary resection is reviewed.

Cervical epidural injection is a common treatment for management of neck, shoulder, and upper extremity pain. Although several complications are possible, cardiopulmonary arrest and intraventricular pneumocephalus are rare serious complications, mainly occurring when the dura has been punctured. We report on a case of cardiopulmonary arrest and intraventricular pneumocephalus after cervical epidural injection with loss of resistance technique using air. After performance of cardiopulmonary resuscitation for 30 minutes, a pulse was regained; however, the patient’s mental status was coma. Despite receiving conservative treatment, the patient ultimately died without recovery of consciousness.