Maternal Outcome of Severe Pre-eclampsia and Eclampsia Managed in the High Dependency and Intensive Care Units of the Delta State University Teaching Hospital, Oghara. South-South Nigeria

Abstract

Introduction:  The maternal outcome of patients with severe pre-eclampsia and eclampsia managed at the high-dependency and intensive care units of the Delta State University Teaching Hospital, Oghara, has not been previously determined. This study aimed to do that.

 Methodology: This was a retrospective descriptive study of patients who were admitted for severe pre-eclampsia and eclampsia in the high dependency unit (HDU) and the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), of the Delta State University Teaching Hospital (DELSUTH), Oghara, from January 1, 2017, to December 31, 2023. Data on socio-demographic, and clinical characteristics, were collected using a data proforma. The captured data was subsequently transferred to a computer-based dataset. Data analysis was by SPSS version 25 (IBM)

Results: The medical records of 85 out of 97 patients who were managed for severe pre-eclampsia and eclampsia at the HDU/ICU of DELSUTH, Oghara, during the study period, were captured and analyzed. The fatality rate among patients was 10.3%. The prevalence rate of severe pre-eclampsia/eclampsia at the study facility was 9.3%. The majority (87%) of cases were early-onset pre-eclampsia/ eclampsia. Over 90% of the patients were referred from other health facilities. Pulmonary edema (n=5) was the leading cause of maternal death.  Age of patients ≤ 30 years was associated with a better outcome (P-value = 0.03).

Conclusion: Our study found a high level of maternal death among patients with severe pre-eclampsia/ eclampsia, despite HDU/ ICU management, principally due to pulmonary edema.