Prevention and Management of Pre-Eclampsia and Eclampsia in Tertiary Care Hospital of Islamabad

Management of Pre-eclampsia and Eclampsia.

Abstract

Pre-eclampsia is a syndrome that is usually defined as the onset of hypertension and proteinuria after 20 weeks of gestation in previously normotensive, non-proteinuric pregnant women. If untreated, pre-eclampsia progresses to a major neurological complication known as eclampsia. The aim of this study was to analyze the management of pre-eclampsia and eclampsia and to explore the role of clinical pharmacists in the prevention of pre-eclampsia and eclampsia. A prospective study of 20 patients on the management of eclampsia and pre-eclampsia was carried out at the Mother and Child Health Hospital PIMS, Islamabad. Data analysis showed that 75% of women have pre-eclampsia and 25% of women have eclampsia. The primary treatments given to the patients consisted of intravenous infusions of magnesium sulfate, methyldopa, and nifedipine. Of these, 60% received magnesium sulfate and 90% received oral methyldopa and nifedipine. The increased workload of nurses and physicians due to the increase in the number of patients with pre-eclampsia and eclampsia requires clinical pharmacists to work side-by-side with nursing staff and physicians, resulting in reduced morbidity and mortality, and improved quality of life for mothers and infants.