Critically Ill Obstetric Admissions to an Intensive Care Unit: A Prospective Analysis from a Tertiary Care University Hospital in South India

BACKGROUND: Critically ill obstetric patients represent a small proportion of intensive care unit (ICU) admissions. Physiological changes of pregnancy along with pregnancy specific diseases may lead to rapid deterioration of the health status of the parturient warranting ICU care. The present study aims to study the clinical profile and outcomes of the obstetric patients requiring ICU care. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTINGS: Prospective observational study in the multidisciplinary ICU of a tertiary care teaching hospital conducted for a period of 2 years. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Demographic details, indication for ICU admission, severity of illness scores, interventions, complications and outcomes of the consecutive obstetric patients transferred to ICU were studied. RESULTS: Ninety-one patients were admitted (26 per 1000 deliveries) to the ICU. Majority of them were postpartum (84.6%) and unbooked or referred (63.8%). Hypertensive disorders (24.2%) and obstetric hemorrhage (23.1%) were the major cause for admission to ICU. Forty three patients (47.3%) underwent cesarean delivery. Mechanical ventilation (54.9%), blood transfusion (46%), vasopressor therapy (22%) and dialysis (9.9%) were the various interventions provided in the ICU. Patients with sepsis had high mortality accounting for one third of ICU mortality. The ICU mortality rate was 9.9%. CONCLUSION: The present study showed a clinical profile and outcomes similar to the current scenario of critically ill obstetric patients nationwide. Further studies with a larger sample size may provide a better insight in this population. HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE: Sailaja B, Renuka MK, et al. Critically Ill Obstetric Admissions to an Intensive Care Unit: A Prospective Analysis from a Tertiary Care University Hospital in South India. Indian J of Crit Care Med 2019;23(2):78-82.