Ergometrine administration for post-partum haemorrhage in an undiagnosed pre-eclamptic.
We report a case of a parturient who was well antenatally but presented with oliguria following delivery. The possibility of post-partum pre-eclampsia was obscured by simultaneous post-partum haemorrhage. Ergometrine was given and she suffered an eclamptic seizure shortly after. We discuss the diagnostic difficulties presented by simultaneous presentation of post-partum pre-eclampsia and haemorrhage and the likelihood that ergometrine precipitated eclampsia in a patient at risk. While ergometrine is an effective drug for the management of uterine atony, its potential role in precipitating eclampsia must be considered.
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Department of Women's Anaesthesia, KK Women's and Children's Hospital, Singapore.
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D000328:Adult; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001794:Blood Pressure; D001803:Blood Transfusion / Q000379:methods; D002585:Cesarean Section; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004461:Eclampsia / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis; D004874:Ergonovine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020896:Hypovolemia / Q000209:etiology; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal; D008278:Magnesium Sulfate / Q000008:administration & dosage; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000150:complications; D009846:Oliguria / Q000209:etiology; D010120:Oxytocics / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006473:Postpartum Hemorrhage / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000175:diagnosis; D011247:Pregnancy; D012307:Risk Factors; D012640:Seizures / Q000209:etiology; D013610:Tachycardia / Q000209:etiology
D000927:Anticonvulsants; D010120:Oxytocics; D008278:Magnesium Sulfate; D004874:Ergonovine