Eclampsia and Perinatal Outcome: A Retrospective Study in a Tertiary Centre

Abstract

The aim of this study is to evaluate the perinatal outcome in antepartum eclampsia with different modes of delivery i. e. cesarean section with those obtained with vaginal delivery in primi gravida with more than 28 weeks of gestation. MATERIAL AND METHODS: women admitted to labour ward of Guntur Medical College Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, India from October 2010 to September 2012, a period of 2 years with antepartum eclampsia were delivered either by cesarean section or vaginal delivery and factors influencing perinatal outcome were assessed. RESULTS: The study comprised 100 pregnant women with antepartum eclampsia with gestational age more than 28 weeks, who satisfied exclusion and inclusion criteria. 60 patients had a vaginal delivery and 40 patients had a cesarean section. The perinatal morbidity was significantly less in the cesarean section group and in women who delivered within 6 hours of onset of convulsions by cesarean section. Perinatal morbidity increased with increasing induction delivery interval and when the number of convulsions were more than 5. CONCLUSION: Cesarean section within 6 hours of convulsions is associated with lesser perinatal morbidity and better perinatal outcome, if done in salvagable babies.