[Time selection of cesarean section in preeclampsia]

To study the relationship between the time of cesarean section and the outcome of mothers and newborns.

One hundred and three pregnant women suffered from preeclampsia (< 37 weeks 34, > or = 37 weeks 69) and 109 newborns (twins 6) were enrolled for study. The rates of neonatal asphyxia, perinatal mortality and morbidity such as pneumonia, respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) and meconium staining amniotic fluid were observed.

The cesarean section rate was 83.06% in preeclampsia cases and it was 94.44% in cases with gestational age less than 37 weeks. There was no maternal death. Neonatal asphyxia rate was 6.67%, and the perinatal mortality rate was 6.67%. After 37 weeks the perinatal mortality rate was 1.41% (P > 0.05) and neonatal asphyxia rate 28.17% (P < 0.01). The rate of pneumonia and meconium staining amniotic fluid were obviously increased.

These observations suggest that fetal lung maturation tended to ahead of gestational age in pregnancy induced hypertension. After 37 weeks complications of both mother and baby increased. In severe preeclampsia cases, pregnancy should be terminated at 34-36 gestational weeks, and cesarean section is the first choice.