A Five-year Review of the Pattern and Outcome of Obstetric Admissions into the Intensive care unit of a University Teaching Hospital in Southern Nigeria

Celestine Osita John, Justina Omoikhefe Alegbeleye * and Ijeoma Chioma Oppah

Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH), Rivers State, Nigeria.
 
Research Article
International Journal of Science and Research Archive, 2022, 05(02), 155–162.
Article DOI: 10.30574/ijsra.2022.5.2.0073
Publication history: 
Received on 27 February 2022; revised on 02 April 2022; accepted on 04 April 2022
 
Abstract: 
Background: The care of critically ill patients remains a herculean task in developing countries, Nigeria inclusive. This is due to the late presentation of patients, and the need for highly specialized equipment and professionals.
Objectives: To determine the incidence, pattern and maternal outcome of obstetric patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) of the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital.
Material and Methods: A five-year retrospective study of 141 obstetric admissions to the ICU from January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2016. A pre-structured questionnaire was used to obtain information from the case files, theatre, and ICU registers. Data obtained was collated, entered in a spread sheet, and analyzed using SPSS version 22.0. Results are expressed in means and percentages.
Results: There were 917 ICU admissions during the period under review. Of these, 141 were obstetric patients, constituting 15.4% of the total ICU admissions. The mean age was 31.73 ± 5.9 years, and the mean parity was 1.6 ± 1.5. About two-thirds 82 (69.5%) of the women were unbooked. Obstetric haemorrhage was the most common indication for admission, 50 (42.3%), followed by severe pre-eclampsia/eclampsia 32 (27.2%). Majority (42.4%) of the patients had caesarean sections, while 18.6% had abdominal hysterectomy. The average length of stay was 3.4 days. The maternal mortality rate was 31.36%.
Conclusion: Admissions into the ICU was more common among unbooked obstetric patients. Obstetric haemorrhage remains a major cause of maternal deaths in developing countries, and the most common indication for ICU admissions.
 
Keywords: 
Intensive Care Unit; Obstetric Patients; Outcome; Nigeria
 
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