STM Article Repository

Background: Preeclampsia in Nigerian women is considered to have a rapidly progressive clinical
course. The timing of delivery when it occurs before 34 weeks gestation continues to elicit debate turn
between the choice to protect the mother and a desire to improve the chance of survival of the fetus.
Aim: In the present study we sought to determine the most appropriate gestational age (GA) for
delivery in severe preeclampsia occurring preterm to achieve optimal neonatal outcome, without
giving room for undue maternal compromise.
Study Design: A retrospective cohort study.
Place and Duration of Study: Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of Benin Teaching
Hospital, Benin City, Nigeria between June 2012 and May 2014.
Methodology: Information on the sociodemographic characteristics, clinical management and
outcome of women with severe preeclampsia was extracted from case records as well as the
computerized departmental data bank, and analyzed using SPSS 20.0 and GraphPadInStat 3
software.
Results: We included 312 women in the study. The median GA at delivery was 35weeks. The
incidence of eclampsia was 2.5% (102/4,106). Eclampsia occurred 1.5-fold, 1.6-fold and 1.6-fold
more, respectively with proteinuria of ≥ 3+, severe anemia and mean arterial blood pressure ≥ 120
mmHg (P=0.00, P=0.00 and P=0.00, respectively). Eclampsia, severe anemia and proteinuria ≥ 3+
were associated with maternal mortality (14.7% vs 0, P=0.00; 28.5% vs 3.7, P=0.00; and 7.6% vs 0.8,
P=0.00, respectively). Logistic regression analysis showed that delivery before 34 weeks gestation
was associated with early neonatal death (P=0.00).
Conclusions: Severe preeclampsia occurring preterm is associated with significant perinatal mortality
in our hospital. An approach of knowledgeable, evidence-based, selective conservative management
up to 34 weeks gestation could improve fetal salvage rate while assuring maternal wellbeing.