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Maternal cardiac arrest — DIPIMC MCQ

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HardResuscitationMaternal cardiac arrestDIPIMCDipIMC

A woman at 34 weeks' gestation collapses and is in cardiac arrest. High-quality CPR has been ongoing for three minutes with no return of spontaneous circulation.

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

Reveal the answer and explanation

Correct answer: A — Continue CPR with manual left uterine displacement and prepare for perimortem caesarean delivery by five minutes

Explanation lettering: C = shown as B · B = shown as C · E = shown as D · D = shown as E

In maternal arrest beyond about 20 weeks, aortocaval compression must be relieved with manual uterine displacement, and if there is no return of circulation, perimortem caesarean delivery should be performed with the aim of delivering by five minutes - principally to improve maternal resuscitation. A full lateral position (B) makes effective compressions impossible. Delivery is part of resuscitating the mother, not just the baby, and the clock starts at the moment of arrest.

Reference: Resuscitation Council UK 2025; MBRRACE-UK