title: Maternal and fetal outcome in eclamptic patients in Benin City, Nigeria.
abstract: Eclampsia is a well-recognised major cause of maternal death and perinatal morbidity and mortality. The incidence of eclampsia, its presentation patterns, maternal and perinatal outcomes were investigated in a retrospective study conducted at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Nigeria over an 8-year period, 1995 - 2002. There were 103 cases of eclampsia of 7835 deliveries, giving an incidence of one in 76 (1.32%). The mean age of the women was 27.1 +/- 5.6 years. Eclampsia significantly (P < 0.001) occurred in nulliparous and unbooked mothers. Eighty-nine (86.4%) of the patients developed fits in the predelivery stage; 85 (83%) of the patients had at least one premonitory symptom including headache (82.4%) visual disturbance (10.6%) and epigastric pain (7%). There were nine stillbirths and 16 early neonatal deaths for a perinatal mortality rate of 214/1000. The major causes of perinatal mortality were prematurity and birth asphyxia. Eleven maternal deaths occurred with a maternal case fatality rate of 10.7% and a maternal mortality ratio from eclampsia of 140/100 000. The clinical causes of deaths were cardiopulmonary failure, acute renal failure, haemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, low platelet count (HELLP) syndrome and cerebrovascular accident. Timely referral of high-risk patients coupled with availability of emergency obstetric and neonatal care services would reduce the incidence eclampsia associated mortality and morbidity in our facility.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: S O
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: Onuh
authors.forename: A O
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Aisien
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001238:Asphyxia Neonatorum / Q000401:mortality; D001794:Blood Pressure; D004461:Eclampsia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006261:Headache; D006801:Humans; D007226:Infant Mortality; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D008428:Maternal Mortality; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D010298:Parity; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011507:Proteinuria; D011644:Puerperal Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012640:Seizures