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Maternal cardiac arrest — DipIMC MCQ

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ModerateResuscitationMaternal cardiac arrestDipIMC

A 34-year-old woman at 32 weeks' gestation collapses at a railway station. She is pulseless, CPR has started and the team can see a visibly gravid uterus. What is the most appropriate immediate action?

Educational content. Not a substitute for clinical judgement or local policy.

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Correct answer: C — Continue CPR with manual left uterine displacement and request urgent obstetric support

Cardiac arrest in late pregnancy requires standard ALS with high-quality compressions plus relief of aortocaval compression by manual left uterine displacement. Excessive lateral tilt can reduce compression effectiveness. Fetal assessment must not delay maternal resuscitation. The pearl is that the best fetal resuscitation is effective maternal resuscitation.

Reference: Resuscitation Council UK Special Circumstances Guidelines 2025; JRCALC Guidelines 2025