Obstetric patients treated in intensive care units and maternal mortality

Objective: To ascertain the frequency of serious diseases in pregnant women. Study design: A population based survey was performed in France. The cases were all the women admitted for treatment in intensive care unit (ICU). The severity of the cases was measured with the simplified acute physiology score (SAPS) the lethality and the rate of still birth. Results: 435 obstetric patients were included. The estimated frequency of severe diseases was 310 S.D. 36 per 100 000 live births. The most frequent diagnose that motived admission in ICU was hypertensive diseases. The lethality rates differed greatly between specific disorders. The lethality rate was lower when scheduled maternity was located in a teaching hospital. Conclusion: Regarding these results it appears that the majority of obstetric patients with severe diseases are referred to suitable care, but a small proportion of women who had to change their type of care registered a significant higher lethality.