Study of Obstetric Admissions to the Intensive Care Unit of a Tertiary Care Hospital

Purpose: To analyze obstetric admissions to intensive care unit and to identify the risk factors responsible for intensive care admission. Methods: This is a retrospective study of all obstetric cases admitted to the intensive care unit over a period of 3 years. Data were collected from case records. The risk factors responsible for ICU admission were analyzed. Results: There were 765 obstetric admissions to ICU accounting for 1.24 % of all deliveries. 56.20 % were in the age group of 20–25 years. 38.43 % were in their first pregnancy. 36.48 % of cases were at 37–40 weeks of gestation. Postpartum admissions were 80.91 %. Major conditions responsible were obstetric hemorrhage in 44.05 %, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy in 28.88 %, severe anemia in 14.37 %, heart disease in 12.15 %, and sepsis in 7.97 % of ICU cases. 40.39 % cases required high dependency care. Maternal mortality was seen in 15.55 % of ICU cases. Commonest cause of mortality was hemorrhagic shock (26.89 %) and multiorgan dysfunction syndrome (26.05 %). Conclusion: Commonest risk factors for ICU admissions are obstetric hemorrhage and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. Other major risk factors are severe anemia, heart disease, sepsis, more than one diagnosis on admission, and the need for cesarean delivery. © 2015, Federation of Obstetric & Gynecological Societies of India.