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- Andersgaard, Alice Beathe, et al.
(författare)
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Eclampsia in Scandinavia: incidence, substandard care, and potentially preventable cases
- 2006
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Ingår i: Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica. - : Wiley. - 1600-0412 .- 0001-6349. ; 85:8, s. 929-936
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background. Description of incidence, clinical signs, symptoms, and consequences of eclampsia in Scandinavia, and assessment of substandard care and potential preventability. Methods. A descriptive cohort study including all women giving birth in a 2-year period (mid-1998-mid-2000) in Scandinavia. Notifications of eclampsia cases were obtained from all obstetric units at 3-monthly intervals. All patient files were reviewed, and systematic audit was performed to identify potentially preventable cases by using predefined criteria. Main outcome measures. Signs and symptoms preceding the eclamptic seizure, the standard of medical care, maternal and perinatal morbidity, and mortality were all recorded. Potentially preventable cases through improved care and cases eligible for primary prophylactic magnesium sulfate (MgSO4) were estimated. Results. The incidence of eclampsia was 5.0/10 000 maternities (CI = 4.3-5.7/ 10 000). Eighty-six percent had a diagnosis of pre-eclampsia before the seizure. Nine of 10 had at least one physical complaint before the first seizure, severe headache being the most common symptom, occurring in two-thirds. Most seizures (90%) occurred after admission to hospital. By audit, 89 cases (42%) were classified as having received substandard care. Prophylactic use of magnesium sulfate might have reduced the number of eclampsia cases by 35 (17%). Conclusions. Eclampsia occurred mainly in hospital and the majority of women had symptoms heralding the seizure. In retrospect, nearly half of the cases were found potentially preventable by timely intervention, improved medical care, and systematic use of prophylactic treatment with MgSO4.
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| 2. |
- Andersgaard, Alice Beathe, et al.
(författare)
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Follow-Up Interviews after Eclampsia
- 2008
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Ingår i: Gynecologic and Obstetric Investigation. - : S. Karger AG. - 1423-002X .- 0378-7346. ; 67:1, s. 49-52
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background/Aims: The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of persisting symptoms 6 months or more after eclampsia. Methods: During a 2-year period (mid-1998 to mid-2000), 210 patients with eclampsia were included in a prospective cohort study of eclampsia in Denmark, Norway and Sweden. One hundred and twenty-three women (59%) were followed up with a structured telephone interview, 6-24 months (median 11) after their eclamptic fit. Results: At the time of follow-up, 63 women (51%) had at least one persistent symptom; 2 patients had severe neurological sequels (hemiparesis and dysarthria), 11% had visual disturbances, 22% had problems concentrating or recalling phone numbers and messages, 18% reported frequent headaches and 10% had vertigo or balance problems. Conclusion: Although few women suffered from severe sequels, many women had persisting symptoms following eclampsia indicating a need for follow-up of these patients. A case-control study comparing the health and symptoms between women having suffered from eclampsia and women without this complication may therefore be justified. Copyright (C) 2008 S. Karger AG, Basel
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