ABSTRACT
To describe maternal outcome in eclampsia the causes of death in those who could not survive this serious complication of pregnancy. This descriptive study was conducted over a span of one year i.e. from December 2001 to December 2002 at Nishtar Hospital, Multan. No specific sampling technique was observed. All cases meeting the inclusion criteria were included. The onset of eclampsia was antepartum in majority of patients [70%]. Almost all patients suffered some form of morbidity. Many patients had more than one complication. The most common problems encountered were tongue bite [60%]. No delivery related complications in the mother were encountered. Out of 60 eclamptic patients 8 expired. Four patients [6.7%] came in labour room with shock and died within 12 hours of hospitalization. Two of these four patients died due to disseminated intravascular coagulopathy [abruption placenta], one due to cerebrovascular accident and fourth died due to cardiac failure. Commonest cause of neonatal death was prematurity [>72%]. The present study clearly concludes that eclampsia can be prevented through concentrated efforts at the community level by improving antenatal services