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We experienced an autopy case of sudden and unexpected natural death due to disseminated intravascular coagulopathy secondary to amniotic fluid embolism. The underlying cause is the infusion of amniotic fluid with all of its contents into the maternal circulation following a tear in the placental membranes and rupture of uterine and/or cervical veins. As a consequence, epithelial squames from fetal skin, lanugo hair, fat from vervix caseosa, mucin from the fetal respiratory or gastrointestinal tract, and occasionally bile from meconium contamination of amniotic fluid can be found in the victim´s pulmonary microcirculation at postmortem examination. Fortunately, amniotic fluid embolism is uncommon, with an incidence of about 1 per 50,000 deliveries, but it incurs a mortality rate of 86%. The clinical presentation is striking-suddenly and without warning, profound respiratory difficulty with deep cyanosis and cardiovascular shock appear, followed rapidly in some cases by clonic-tonic convulsions and profound coma. In about half the cases, Excessive bleeding from the uterus and birth canal is attributeed to the development of DIC due to release of thromboplastic substances in amniotic fluids).
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