Maternal mortality associated with eclampsia and severe preeclampsia of pregnancy.
OBJECTIVE
To analyse factors associated with maternal mortality in eclampsia and preeclampsia.


METHODS
Retrospective analysis of 69 maternal deaths due to (eclampsia-61; severe preeclampsia-8) was carried out during a period of 17 years (1982-1998). Maternal condition on admission, associated complications and principal cause of death was analysed in each case.


RESULTS
Mean time interval between hospitalization and maternal death was 49.56 +/- 62.01 hrs (1-240 hrs). Twenty (28.9%) women died undelivered. Twenty-three (37.7%) women were in grade IV coma and 52.4% of eclampsia patients had recurrent convulsions (> 10) prior to admission. Associated complications in form of hemorrhage, cerebrovascular accidents, acute renal failure, jaundice, aspiration pneumonia and pulmonary oedema were 30.4, 31.8, 34.8, 18.8, 17.8, and 5.8%, respectively. Maternal mortality in eclampsia was significantly low in time period B (4.1%) when magnesium sulphate was used as an anticonvulsant.


CONCLUSIONS
Maternal condition on admission and associated complications are the major determinant of maternal outcome. Use of magnesium sulphate is associated with significant reduction of maternal mortality.
Sawhney
H
H
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.
Aggarwal
N
N
Biswas
R
R
Vasishta
K
K
Gopalan
S
S
D000328:Adult; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002423:Cause of Death; D004461:Eclampsia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality* / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008278:Magnesium Sulfate / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008428:Maternal Mortality; D008499:Medical Records; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality; D011247:Pregnancy; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D000927:Anticonvulsants; D008278:Magnesium Sulfate