Postpartum collapse

Postpartum collapse signifies an acute event involving the brain, heart or lungs and may ultimately result in death. Every effort should be made to prevent this possible catastrophic outcome. This can be achieved by understanding the causes of maternal collapse and by prompt appropriate resuscitation. Implementing guidelines and ensuring a multidisciplinary input will improve the chances of a good outcome. In addition, it is essential that high-risk women are identified in the antenatal period to allow care to be optimized to prevent postpartum collapse.