Obstetric indications for admission to the intensive care unit of a tertiary referral center; an Iranian experience

Abstract

Objective: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the obstetric admissions to the intensive care unit (ICU) in the setting of a tertiary referral hospital in an attempt to identify the risk factors influencing maternal outcome.

Method: In a prospective, cross-sectional study, all parturient patients during pregnancy and up to 6 weeks postpartum admitted to the ICU of a tertiary referral hospital between 2013 and 2014 were evaluated. Demographic data, medical histories, pregnancy, and intrapartum and postpartum data were collected. Moreover, interventions and fetomaternal outcomes were noted.

Results: Ninety nine obstetric patients were admitted to the ICU. Fifty seven percent of the admissions were postpartum. The main indications for admission were hypertensive disorders (37.3%), and obstetric hemorrhage (13.1%). Non-obstetric indications of ICU admission were the cardiac diseases.

Conclusion: The major obstetric indications for admission in our study were hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and obstetric hemorrhage.

Keywords: Pregnancy; Intensive care unit; maternal mortality; morbidity