Magnesium sulphate: a life saving drug

Area of Science:

• Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Maternal Health
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Eclampsia remains a significant cause of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality, particularly in resource-limited settings.
• Pregnancy-induced hypertension, pre-eclampsia, and eclampsia represent a spectrum of hypertensive disorders in pregnancy requiring effective management strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the maternal and perinatal outcomes of eclamptic women treated with Magnesium Sulphate.
• To assess the effectiveness of Magnesium Sulphate in managing eclampsia and severe pre-eclampsia.
• To identify factors influencing maternal and perinatal complications and mortality in eclamptic cases.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective study analyzing data from 68 eclamptic women treated with Magnesium Sulphate at Koshi Zonal Hospital from 2006-2007.
• Data collected included maternal conditions, complications, delivery outcomes, and causes of death.
• Analysis of eclampsia incidence, patient demographics, clinical presentation, treatment received, and hospital stay.

Main Results:

• Eclampsia presented in 1.3% of deliveries; 67.7% were ante-partum, 22.1% intrapartum, and 10.3% post-partum.
• The majority of eclamptic women (63.2%) were aged 20-25 years, with teenage pregnancies accounting for 30.88%.
• Magnesium Sulphate was administered to 79.4% of women, with significant rates of live births (69.6%) but also still births (8.7%) and neonatal deaths (11.6%).

Conclusions:

• Magnesium Sulphate is an effective drug for managing eclampsia and pre-eclampsia, contributing to reduced maternal mortality in the study setting.
• Improving prenatal care coverage, ensuring timely referrals, and optimizing Magnesium Sulphate management are critical for preventing eclampsia-related morbidity and mortality.
• Addressing socioeconomic factors, such as teenage pregnancy and home deliveries, is essential for comprehensive maternal health improvement.