Why do obstetric patients go to the ICU? A 3-year-study

Pregnant women are at risk to develop complications due to illness related to pregnancy or due to aggravation of pre-existing disease. These patients also require critical care and ICU admissions in some cases. To determine the current spectrum of diseases in an obstetric population resulting in admission to the intensive care unit (ICU) at a tertiary care hospital.

A retrospective case series study and analysis of data from obstetric patients admitted for critical care management.

0.26% of the total obstetric patients admitted to the hospital required ICU admissions. 46% of patients were admitted to ICU for ventilator support. Pre-eclampsia and obstetrical hemorrhage were the common diagnosis for these patients.

Critically ill obstetric patients require a team approach of the obstetrician, anesthesiologist and intensive care specialist for the optimal care of these patients.