title: Pre-eclampsia-eclampsia admitted to critical care unit.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate women with hypertensive disorder admitted to critical care unit.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was carried out in Cartagena, Colombia, between January 2006 and December 2009. Patients were divided into 4 groups; severe pre-eclampsia, eclampsia, HELLP syndrome and HELLP with eclampsia (HEEH).
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 217 cases were admitted. The admitting diagnoses were severe pre-eclampsia without HELLP syndrome (39.2%), HELLP syndrome without eclampsia (33.6%), eclampsia without HELLP syndrome (20.3%) and Eclampsia with HELLP syndrome or HEEH (6.9%). Groups were similar with respect to parity (p = 0.25), gestational age (p = 0.11), cesarean section (p = 0.58), mechanical ventilation (p = 0.54), level of systolic (p = 0.48) and diastolic blood pressure (p = 0.15) and inotropic support (p = 0.32). Average total duration of hospitalization was significantly different among groups, more time in women with HEEH (p = 0.001). Multiple organ dysfunctions was diagnosed > 70% of all women admitted to intensive care, but was significantly more frequent in patients with HELLP syndrome and HEEH (p = 0.001). There were 5 maternal deaths (2.3%). Causes of maternal death were intracranial hemorrhage (3), intra-abdominal bleeding (1) and pulmonary complications (1).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Women with HELLP syndrome with or without eclampsia are associated with major morbidity and mortality. Therefore, the maternal outcome in eclampsia is influenced for HELLP syndrome.
authors.affiliation: Critical Care Unit, Clínica de Maternidad Rafael Calvo, Grupo de Investigación en Cuidados Intensivos y Obstetricia, Universidad de Cartagena, Cartagena, Colombia.
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rojas-Suarez
authors.forename: Paulino
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vigil-De Gracia
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003105:Colombia; D003422:Critical Care; D004461:Eclampsia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D017359:HELLP Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy; D006771:Hospitals, Maternity / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D046110:Hypertension, Pregnancy-Induced / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy; D007362:Intensive Care Units / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009102:Multiple Organ Failure / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy; D011247:Pregnancy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index