Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to determinate the eclamptic incidence and evaluate the impact over the maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. Study Methods: This study was retrospective and carried out at Clinical Hospital, Concepción Chile from 1988 to 1999. We studied 117 patients with Eclampsia and their newborns included 6 twins. All the patients with no eclamptic convulsions were excluded. The statistical analisys was conducted througth the average. Median and rates. Results: The eclamptic incidence was 0,17%, The mayority of the patients (76%) were primigravids and 45,3% adolescents. 82,1% had prenatal care. The most frecuent signs of eclampsia were increased deep tendon reflexes 50,4%, headache 37,6%, and vomits 11,1%. The average blood pressure was 206 / 110 mmHg. Convulsions ocurred during pregnancy 68,4%, intrapartum 5,1%. and post partum 9,4%. The patients had an average of 2,4 convulsions. Magnesium Sulfate was the drug of choise for treatment of eclamptic convulsions (82,9%). The most frecuent pathologies associated to the pregnancy were preterm delivery 34,2%, intrauterine grow retardation 25,2% and abruptio placentae 5.2%. There were 87,2% caesarean sections. Multisistemics complications ocurred mainly in cardiorespiratory 19,7%, neurologic 13,7%, hematologic 11,1% and renal 2,6% territories. The maternal mortality rate was 1,17 × 10.000 alive newborns, late fetal mortality 1,32 × 10.000 alive newborns, early neonatal mortality 0,44 × 10.000 alive newborns and perinatal mortality was 1,76 × 10.000 alive newborns. Conclusions: Eclampsia had a negative impact in perinatal and maternal health.