RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To review the management of eclampsia in our institution. METHOD: The prevalence, management and outcome of women with eclampsia over a period of 8 years were reviewed at our referral medical center. There were 444 patients with eclampsia among 5757 deliveries (1 in 12.96 deliveries or 7.71% of deliveries). Most of the cases were uneducated and had received no antenatal care. One hundred eighty-one cases were nulliparous (40.77%). High parities of more than five were observed in 27.93% of cases. A standard magnesium sulfate regimen, similar to Prichard's intramuscular regimen, was used. RESULTS: Magnesium sulfate effectively controlled the convulsions. The incidence of abdominal delivery among 397 cases with ante- and intrapartum eclampsia was 50.12%. Perinatal mortality was very high (591.47% 0) for all cases. Maternal complications were serious and led to maternal death in 42 women (9.46%). CONCLUSION: Eclampsia is still a serious obstetric complication particularly in uneducated women who do not receive antenatal care.
