Early onset severe pre-eclampsia: expectant management at a secondary hospital in close association with a tertiary institution.
OBJECTIVE
Early onset severe pre-eclampsia is ideally managed in a tertiary setting. We investigated the possibility of safe management at secondary level, in close co-operation with the tertiary centre.


METHODS
Prospective case series over 39 months.


METHODS
Secondary referral centre.


METHODS
All women (n= 131) between 24 and 34 weeks of gestation with severe pre-eclampsia, where both mother and fetus were otherwise stable.


METHODS
After admission, frequent intensive but non-invasive monitoring of mother and fetus was performed. Women were delivered on achieving 34 weeks, or if fetal distress or major maternal complications developed. Transfer to the tertiary centre was individualised.


METHODS
Prolongation of gestation, maternal complications, perinatal outcome and number of tertiary referrals.


RESULTS
Most women [n= 116 (88.5%)] were managed entirely at the secondary hospital. Major maternal complications occurred in 44 (33.6%) cases with placental abruption (22.9%) the most common. One maternal death occurred and two women required intensive care admission. A mean of 11.6 days was gained before delivery with the mean delivery gestation being 31.8 weeks. The most frequent reason for delivery was fetal distress (55.2%). There were four intrauterine deaths. The perinatal mortality rate (> or =1000 g) was 44.4/1000, and the early neonatal mortality rate (> or =500 g) was 30.5/1000.


CONCLUSIONS
The maternal and perinatal outcomes are comparable to those achieved by other tertiary units. This model of expectant management of early onset, severe pre-eclampsia is encouraging but requires close co-operation between secondary and tertiary institutions. Referrals to the tertiary centre were optimised, reducing their workload and costs, and patients were managed closer to their communities.
Oettle
Charl
C
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Eben Donges Hospital, Worcester, South Africa.
Hall
David
D
Roux
Adele
A
Grové
Debbie
D
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001623:Betamethasone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007226:Infant Mortality; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008278:Magnesium Sulfate / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008750:Methyldopa / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000628:therapy*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013019:South Africa
D000927:Anticonvulsants; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D008750:Methyldopa; D008278:Magnesium Sulfate; D001623:Betamethasone