title: Obstetric admissions to the intensive care unit.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether obstetric admissions to the intensive care unit (ICU) are useful quality-assurance indicators.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analyzed retrospectively obstetric ICU admissions at two tertiary care centers from 1991 to 1997.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The 131 obstetric admissions represented 0.3% of all deliveries. The majority (78%) of women were admitted to the ICU postpartum. Obstetric hemorrhage (26%) and hypertension (21%) were the two most common reasons for admission. Together with cardiac disease, respiratory disorders, and infection, they accounted for more than 80% of all admissions. Preexisting medical conditions were present in 38% of all admissions. The median Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score was 8.5. The predicted mortality rate for the group was 10.0%, and the actual mortality rate was 2.3%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The most common precipitants of ICU admission were obstetric hemorrhage and uncontrolled hypertension. Improved management strategies for these problems may significantly reduce major maternal morbidity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the Royal Victoria General Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. nmahut1@po-box.mcgill.ca
authors.forename: N G
authors.initials: NG
authors.lastname: Mahutte
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Murphy-Kaulbeck
authors.forename: Q
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Le
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Solomon
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Benjamin
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Boyd
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011644:Puerperal Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies