Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2005;27(4):197-203
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032005000400006
PURPOSE: to apply a severity score to cases of severe maternal morbidity (SMM) and to compare the classification criteria. METHODS: a control-case study was performed as a secondary analysis of cases of SMM in a tertiary level maternity unit for a period of 12-month. A specific score for assessing the degree of severity was applied to cases identified as SMM. Twenty cases of near miss maternal morbidity (higher severity) were compared to 104 control cases (lower severity) of other severe morbidities, regarding risk factors, primary determinants and assistance requirements. Analyses were performed with means and proportions, using Student's t, Wilcoxon and chi2 statistical tests, and estimations of OR and 95% CI. RESULTS: the higher severity (near miss) was identified in 16.1% of cases and the history of abortion was the only factor statistically associated with it (OR=3.41, 95% CI 1.08-10.79). In fact, the indices of assistance complexity were more frequent in the near-miss morbidity group, which also presented less hypertension (30% against 62.5%) and more hemorrhage (35.5% against 10.6%) as primary determinant factors of severe morbidity. CONCLUSIONS: the higher severity of maternal morbidity was associated with a history of abortion and with hemorrhage as a cause. The applied score was able to identify a higher severity subgroup (near miss), which needs more complex professional and institutional care in order to avoid the occurrence of death.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2004;26(4):317-323
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032004000400009
OBJECTIVE: to evaluate the epidemiological and parturitional aspects of obstetric patients admitted to intensive care units (ICU), and analyze the frequency of intensive support needed by them. METHODS: observational and descriptive study of all obstetric patients' transfers to ICU from the Hospital Materno Infantil of Goiânia-Go, from January 1999 to December 2001. The analysis has included variables as maternal age, parity, obstetric and non-obstetric indications for ICU admissions, moment of transfer, mode of delivery, maternal death, and the frequency of ICU utilization per 1,000 deliveries (IDR - imminent death ratio). The statistical analysis was performed by the chi2 test or the Fisher exact test and a significant difference was set at a level of 5%. RESULTS: over the 36-month period analyzed, 86 pregnancy-associated ICU admissions were identified (among 4,560 deliveries). Of the 86 patients, 52.33% (n=45) were nulliparae and 63 (73.26%) were between 19 and 35 years old. Hypertensive disorders accounted for 41 (57.75%) of the admissions and hemorrhage for 14 (19.72%). Eclampsia (n=23), HELLP syndrome (n=13) and premature abruptio placentae (n=5) were the most common obstetric indications for ICU admissions. Maternal cardiac disorders accounted for 4 cases of non-obstetric indications. There was a predominance of postpartum transfers (82.35%). Fifty-five (72.37%) patients needed delivery by caesarian section. The average time spent in the UCI by those patients was 5.1 days. Maternal mortality found in this study was 24.29%, hypertensive disorders being responsible for 52.94% (9/17) of all obstetric-associated deaths. There were no significant statistical differences (p=0.81) regarding these obstetric-associated deaths and their causes (hypertensive disorders, hemorrhage or infections) or even regarding maternal deaths and duration of stay (< or > 48 hours) in the ICU (p=0.08). The IDR found was 18.8 per 1,000 deliveries. CONCLUSIONS: the need of intensive care estimated by IDR was 18.8 per 1,000 deliveries, the pregnancy-induced hypertension being responsible for the majority of the indications for maternal transfers.