What should be done for third trimester cardiac arrest patients?

Manually displacing the uterus to the left is crucial in the management of third trimester cardiac arrest patients. This action helps relieve pressure from the inferior vena cava, a major blood vessel responsible for returning deoxygenated blood to the heart. In late pregnancy, the weight of the enlarged uterus can compress this vessel when the patient is in a supine position, leading to reduced venous return and, consequently, impaired cardiac output.

By performing a left uterine displacement, you effectively improve venous blood flow back to the heart, which can enhance circulation during CPR. This technique assists in potentially improving the effectiveness of resuscitation efforts, increasing the viability of both the mother and the fetus during an emergency situation.

Other approaches, such as merely transporting the patient to any nearby hospital or applying pressure to the abdomen without addressing the compression issue, do not prioritize immediate life-saving measures or address the specific physiological challenges presented in late pregnancy. Additionally, performing CPR alone without considering the need for uterine displacement overlooks a critical factor that can influence the outcome of resuscitation in these patients.