Is intensive care the only answer for high risk pregnancies in developing nations?

BACKGROUND: Management of high risk obstetric patients. AIM: The present study was conducted to evaluate the primary causes of the admission of obstetric patients to Intensive Care Unit (ICU), the presence of co-morbid diseases, outcome of such patients, their survival rate as well as the factors which contribute to the maternal mortality. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: A retrospective study was conducted in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and Anaesthesiology/ICU of our Institute. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty-one obstetric patients, who were admitted to ICU between 20 December 2006 and 31 January 2010, were evaluated for various factors responsible for their admission as well as their outcome. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: At the end of study, the data were arranged systematically and subjected to statistical analysis using nonparametric tests and P value <0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: Majority of the 61 patients admitted in ICU were referred from the peripheral health centers, smaller nursing homes/hospitals and some even without proper primary care and mainly comprising uneducated and rural population. Hemorrhage, pregnancy induced hypertension, cardiac diseases, respiratory insufficiency and sepsis were the main causes for admission. A total of 18 patients among 61 died during their ICU stay in the hospital. CONCLUSIONS: In the developing countries, high risk pregnancy should be managed at peripheral centers with proper facilities, antenatal visits and timely referral. The intensive care help should be reserved for very high risk pregnancies with co-morbid diseases.