title: Study of Obstetric Admissions to the Intensive Care Unit of a Tertiary Care Hospital.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyze obstetric admissions to intensive care unit and to identify the risk factors responsible for intensive care admission.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a retrospective study of all obstetric cases admitted to the intensive care unit over a period of 3 years. Data were collected from case records. The risk factors responsible for ICU admission were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 765 obstetric admissions to ICU accounting for 1.24 % of all deliveries. 56.20 % were in the age group of 20-25 years. 38.43 % were in their first pregnancy. 36.48 % of cases were at 37-40 weeks of gestation. Postpartum admissions were 80.91 %. Major conditions responsible were obstetric hemorrhage in 44.05 %, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy in 28.88 %, severe anemia in 14.37 %, heart disease in 12.15 %, and sepsis in 7.97 % of ICU cases. 40.39 % cases required high dependency care. Maternal mortality was seen in 15.55 % of ICU cases. Commonest cause of mortality was hemorrhagic shock (26.89 %) and multiorgan dysfunction syndrome (26.05 %).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Commonest risk factors for ICU admissions are obstetric hemorrhage and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. Other major risk factors are severe anemia, heart disease, sepsis, more than one diagnosis on admission, and the need for cesarean delivery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute, No. 620, A4 Block, Krishna Block, National Games Village, Koramangala, Bangalore, Karnataka 560047 India.
authors.forename: Ashakiran T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Rathod
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute, No. 620, A4 Block, Krishna Block, National Games Village, Koramangala, Bangalore, Karnataka 560047 India.
authors.forename: K V
authors.initials: KV
authors.lastname: Malini
keywords: Critical care; High dependency unit; Hypertensive disorders; Intensive care unit; Maternal mortality; Obstetric hemorrhage; Obstetric medicine