Profile of Obstetric Patients in Intensive Care Unit: A Retrospective Study from a Tertiary Care Centre in North India

Background: Critically ill obstetric patients constitute a small number of intensive care unit (ICU) admissions. Physiological changes in pregnancy along with certain pregnancy-specific diseases may cause a rapid worsening of the health status of the patient necessitating ICU care. The present study aims to study the clinical profile of the obstetric patients requiring ICU care. Materials and methods: It was a retrospective analysis of pregnant/postpartum (up to 6 weeks) admissions over a period of 18 months. Results: Over these 18 months, 127 women required ICU admission.The most common reasons for ICU admission were obstetric hemorrhage (37.79%) and (pre)eclampsia (28.35%). Ten patients presented with antepartum hemorrhage (placenta previa, placenta accreta, placenta increta). The rest of the patients (n = 38) had atonic postpartum hemorrhage with five having severe anemia. Among the nonobstetric causes (n = 26/127), ICU admission was the most common among those with preexisting heart diseases (n = 10; 7.87%). Forty-nine patients were ventilated mechanically (38.58%), with eclampsia being the most common primary diagnosis (n = 23).We observed 10 maternal deaths (7.87%) with septicemia being the most important cause of death. Conclusions: Maternal and child health has become an important measure of human and social development. Early diagnosis and prompt treatment of high-risk obstetric patients in a dedicated obstetric ICU in tertiary hospitals can prevent severe maternal morbidity and improve maternal care.