title: Infection and acute respiratory distress syndrome during pregnancy: a case series of preventable maternal deaths from southern India.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is common among women admitted to obstetric intensive care units, and it contributes significantly, both directly and indirectly, to maternal deaths.
  
  
  METHODS
  We present a case series of ARDS in pregnant women caused by non-obstetric causes. The women were treated at a tertiary hospital in southern India. The striking features were delayed referral from the primary care unit and the lack of a primary diagnosis or treatment. Undiagnosed rheumatic heart disease, anemia, and malaria and H1N1 epidemics contributed to these cases of ARDS and maternal death.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is necessary to increase the awareness of evidence-based uniform protocols to tackle common medical complaints during pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal University, Manipal 576 104, India. akhilavasudeva@gmail.com
authors.forename: Akhila
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vasudeva
authors.forename: Rajeshwari G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Bhat
authors.forename: Amar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ramachandran
authors.forename: Pratap
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kumar
mesh_terms: D003141:Communicable Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D063130:Maternal Death / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality*; D012128:Respiratory Distress Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality*