Fetal and neonatal outcome in patients with severe pre-eclampsia before 34 weeks

Delivery was delayed until 34 weeks in 129 patients with severe pre-eclampsia, unless the maternal or fetal conditions necessitated earlier delivery. No patient developed eclampsia although all sedation was terminated from 24 hours after admission until labour started, unless there was a sudden change in the patient's clinical condition. Of the 14 fetuses that died in utero, only 4 weighed more than 1,000 g at delivery. Three of these 4 had already died by the time of the mothers' admission. Abruptio placentae was the cause of 36% of intra-uterine deaths. The perinatal mortality rate was 223/1,000. Survival rates for liveborn babies were 47%, 78% and 82% for birth weights of 750-999 g, 1,000-1,249 g and 1,250-1,499 g respectively. No neonate died when the birth weight was 1,500 g or more.