Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 28, 2026
Modeling Encephalopathy of Prematurity Using Prenatal Hypoxia-ischemia with Intra-amniotic Lipopolysaccharide in Rats
Published on: November 20, 2015
Admission into intensive care unit in preeclampsia: a four-year population-based study in Reunion Island
Phuong Lien Tran1,2, José Mahenina Randria1,3, Andriamanetsiarivo Tanjona Ratsiatosika3
1Service de Gynécologie-Obstétrique, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sud-Réunion, Saint-Pierre cedex, Réunion Island.
Insights
Severe preeclampsia requiring intensive care unit (ICU) admission is associated with HELLP syndrome, postpartum hemorrhage, and early onset. Fetal outcomes were poorer in ICU admissions, highlighting the need for multidisciplinary care and timely ICU intervention.
Area of Science:
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Intensive Care Medicine
- Maternal-Fetal Medicine
Background:
- Preeclampsia is a significant cause of maternal and fetal complications worldwide.
- Severe preeclampsia necessitates intensive care unit (ICU) admission, impacting patient outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the risk factors and complications associated with severe preeclampsia requiring ICU admission.
- To compare outcomes between preeclamptic patients admitted to the ICU and those managed on the maternity unit.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective comparative study was conducted from January 2015 to January 2019.
- Included preeclamptic patients who delivered at the University's maternity unit, comparing ICU admissions with controls.
Main Results:
- Of 482 preeclampsia cases, 19.5% required ICU transfer, with 4.3% needing invasive care.
- ICU admission correlated with HELLP syndrome, postpartum hemorrhage, and early-onset preeclampsia, leading to increased C-sections.
- Fetal prognosis was poorer in ICU admissions, with lower birth weight and higher perinatal morbidity/mortality.
Conclusions:
- While no maternal deaths occurred, fetal outcomes were significantly worse for preeclamptic patients requiring ICU care.
- Findings are relevant for resource-limited settings, emphasizing the importance of simpler ICU surveillance.
- A multidisciplinary approach and prompt ICU admission for severe preeclampsia are recommended.
Introduction:
Preeclampsia is one of the leading causes of maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. The objective of our study was to study risk factors and complications associated with severe preeclampsia requiring intensive care unit (ICU) admission.
Methods:
Retrospective comparative study over a period from 1st of January 2015 to 1st of January 2019 in the University's maternity unit of South Reunion (Indian Ocean). Our sampling included all preeclamptic patients who delivered in the Southern part of the island. Patients admitted to intensive care unit (ICU) and those who remained in the maternity unit (controls) were reviewed.
Results:
Out of 482 preeclampsia cases, 94 women (19.5%) needed a transfer in ICU, of which only 21 (4.3%) needed invasive intensive care. Mean length of stay was 2.4 ± 2.1 days. ICU admission was associated with HELLP syndrome (OR 8.5 [4.9-14.9], p<.001), severe post-partum hemorrhage (OR 5.86 [1.29-26.70], p=.01) and early onset of preeclampsia (<34 weeks gestation), 2.97 [1.9-4.7], p<.001), leading to higher rate of C-section (OR 2.83 [1.67-4.78], p<.001). There were three patients with a history of eclampsia and no case of maternal death was reported. Fetal prognosis was much poorer in maternal ICU admissions than in controls, with outcomes including lower birth weight (1776 vs. 2304 g, p<.001) and higher perinatal morbidity (infant respiratory distress syndrome 3.70 [1.94-7.05], p<.001) and mortality (<.001).
Conclusions:
Women needing invasive ICU represented 4.3% of preeclampsia cases. This experience is of interest for lower resource settings such as in countries like Madagascar where very intensive ICU means are very poor, but simpler ICU surveillance is possible. Fetal prognosis was poor though no maternal death was reported. Thus, a multidisciplinary approach of patients with preeclampsia should be encouraged; admission into ICU should be facilitated, as soon as any sign of severity and complications appears.
More Related Videos
10:38Observational Study Protocol for Repeated Clinical Examination and Critical Care Ultrasonography Within the Simple Intensive Care Studies
Published on: January 16, 2019
05:31Disruption of the Mouse Blood-Brain Barrier by Small Extracellular Vesicles from Hypoxic Human Placentas
Published on: January 26, 2024