ABSTRACT
Background: Eclampsia is a common cause of maternal and foetal morbidity and mortality in India and the rest of the world accounting for nearly 10% of all maternal deaths. However, there is a relative scarcity of outcome data for patients with eclampsia in India. Our goal was to estimate the incidence of eclampsia, the maternal and foetal outcomes of patients presenting with eclampsia, and predictors of clinical outcomes in these patients. Objective of this study was to estimate the incidence of eclampsia in patients who delivered at a single tertiary care institution over a 2-year period and to study the maternal and perinatal outcomes in those patients.Methods: Prospective cohort study conducted from September 2008 to August 2010 on all patients with eclampsia admitted during the study period at Lok Nayak Hospital, New Delhi, India.Results: The incidence of eclampsia among total deliveries was 0.45%. About 97% of these patients received parenteral magnesium sulphate as the primary anticonvulsant therapy. Caesarean section was performed in 22.7% and majorities were done for foetal distress. Maternal complications were encountered among 17% of patients. There were 2 maternal deaths (2.3%), 13 stillbirths (14.1%) and 7 early neonatal deaths (7.9%).Conclusions: The incidence of eclampsia among all deliveries over a 2-year period at a tertiary care centre in India was 0.45%. Parenteral magnesium sulphate was effective in the vast majority of these patients in controlling the seizures. Further studies to evaluate whether early registration for antepartum care improves maternal and foetal outcomes in patients with eclampsia are warranted.
ABSTRACT
Background: The risks of maternal morbidity and mortality associated with a caesarean section may not be reasonably justified by the degree of neonatal compromise at birth associated with caesarean section done for clinically diagnosed foetal distress. The aim was to study the association of clinical diagnosis of non-reassuring foetal status with umbilical artery acidaemia at birth in women undergoing caesarean section for foetal distress and to evaluate outcomes in neonates born by caesarean section performed for foetal distress.Methods: Prospective observational study of all the women undergoing emergency caesarean section for foetal distress at a tertiary care teaching facility over 2 months. Criteria for diagnosis of foetal distress were thick meconium stained liquor only or foetal heart rate abnormality with or without meconium stained liquor. Testing for pH was done on arterial blood drawn from umbilical cord at the time of birth. Acidaemia was defined as cord blood pH less than 7.2. Severe acidaemia was defined as cord blood pH less than 7.0.Results: Cord blood pH was analysed in 110 caesareans done for foetal distress. Incidence of neonatal acidaemia at birth in study population was 53.6%.Conclusions: Much lower incidence of actual acidaemia and low Apgar scores in neonates born by caesarean section done for clinical diagnosis of foetal distress than previously reported indicate the need for more stringent criteria and more objective tests for diagnosis of foetal distress.