Impact of mode of delivery on maternal mortality in eclampsia
Arora, R.; Swain, S.; Agrawal, A.; Habeebullah, S.
Journal of the Indian Medical Association 95(4): 103-104; 106
1997
ISSN/ISBN: 0019-5847 PMID: 9357270 Document Number: 269667
Of the 25,257 deliveries that occurred in 1984-93 at the Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research in Pondicherry, India, 320 involved eclampsia. Eclampsia accounted for 23 (17.6%) of the 131 maternal deaths during the study period, for a case fatality rate of 7.2%. 12 of the eclampsia deaths occurred during the intrapartum period. 225 women with eclampsia (70.3%) had a spontaneous or operative vaginal delivery; there were 16 deaths (7.1%) among women in this delivery group. Cesarean section under general anesthesia was performed in 92 cases (28.7%); 4 of these women (4.3%) died (3 from intracranial hemorrhage). These findings confirm the general opinion that efficient control of eclampsia-related convulsions and a prompt delivery are key to the prevention of maternal morbidity and mortality.