Maternal and Foetal Outcome of Pregnancies Complicated by Severe Pre-eclampsia before 34 week gestation

Abstract

This is a descriptive prospective study carried out in the three main maternity units in the period of 15th September 2003 to 15th March 2004. Informations were collected from patients presented to the referred clinic and the outpatient in Khartoum Teaching Hospital, Omdurman Maternity Hospital and Soba University Hospital using questionnaire. Fifty-two women including all cases of severe preeclampsia who presented during the study period to the refer clinic. Women with multiple pregnancies, symptoms of eminent eclampsia and gestational age more than 34 weeks at diagnosis were excluded. Most of the study population was in the age group 30 -39 (44.23%) and more than two third of the patients were from urban area (84.62%). Severe pre-eclampsia was found to be more prevalent in primigravidae (65.38%) compared to grandmultiparae (5.77%). Concerning GA (40.38%) of the study population where between 28-31 weeks on admission and (61.53%) delivered at 32 -34 weeks gestation. 8 In 13.47% of the study population platelet count was below 100,000 cell/mm3. The study revealed that fetal compromise (32.69%) was significantly higher than the normal population. There was a significant rise in caesarean section (55.76%) in the study population. The study concluded that around half of the study population complicated by poor perinatal outcome (51.92%) in the form of fresh stillbirth, macerated stillbirth and early neonatal death. Regarding maternal complications (3.85%) developed acute renal failure and HELLP syndrome, while 1.92% had pulmonary oedema and CVA. Blood transfusion following abruptio placentae was needed in (3.85%) of the study population. The study revealed that 36.54% complicated by IUGR, 23.07% developed respiratory distress syndrome and 5.77% developed jaundice.