OBSTETRIC AND GYNECOLOGICAL PATIENTS IN AN INTENSIVE-CARE UNIT - A 1-YEAR REVIEW

Management of the critically ill patient forms a significant proportio n of obstetric and gynaecological (O & G) practice. There have however , been very few reports on the management of such patients in intensiv e care units (ICU). We review all O & G patients admitted to the surgi cal ICU at King Edward VIII Hospital, Durban, South Africa, and make r ecommendations regarding management of such patients. The medical reco rds of all O & G patients admitted to the surgical ICU between the per iod January-December 1992 were analysed. Of all admissions to the ICU 13.6% (n = 122) were O & G patients. Eclampsia was the most common dia gnosis accounting for 66% of all obstetric admissions. Of all eclampti cs in the study period 24% were admitted to the ICU. The overall mater nal mortality was 21%. O & G patients form a major workload of surgica l ICUs and the majority of these patients are women with eclampsia. Ma nagement of such patients requires an understanding of the physiologic al changes of normal and abnormal pregnancies. Therefore, all large ob stetrical units in developing countries should establish their own ICU in order that patient care, health personnel training and continuing health care education may be improved.