Indicators of prolonged hospital stay in hyperemesis gravidarum

Abstract

Hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) occurs in 0.3% to 2% of all pregnancies and was found to be the second most common indication for admission in pregnant women who later gave birth to a live infant. The present study aimed to determine the ability of the main laboratory indicators of hyperemesis gravidarum severity to predict hospital stay at first hospitalization. Records taken in 2004 of the first hospitalization of 192 pregnant women with confirmed HG were reviewed. Routine laboratory work on admission included performing full blood cell count pelvic ultrasonography and urine microscopy; checking for ketonuria; and assessing renal function thyroid function and often liver function depending on clinician preference. Only the first laboratory results were used in this study before treatment. All study women received intravenous rehydration and parenteral metoclopramide. The decision to discharge women was based upon successful correction of dehydration along with improvements in their vomiting ketonuria and nutritional intake. (excerpt)