The contribution of severe pre-eclampsia to maternal death on the operating table (D.O.T.) in Enugu: a five years review, problems proffered solutions

Abstract

Background: Maternal death on operating table is a most distressing situating in obstetric practice.Methods: A review of records of maternal deaths on table January 1995 and December 1999 at the NAUTH Enugu.Results: There were 18 maternal deaths following caesarean section at the University of Nigeria teaching Hospital (N.A.U.T.H), Enugu. Nine (50%) of the these maternal deaths occurred on the operating table (DOT). Severe pre-eclampsia was responsible for 66.7% (6 out of 9). Intraoperative surgical difficulty in the form of uncontrollable hemorrhage occurred in one of the nine cases. Discussion and conclusion: The difficulty of intubations and other problems of general anaesthesia posed by these patients thought to be contributory factors are analyzed. Suggestion is made as to alternative methods of an aesthesia for this risky group of patients especially in the setting of a developing nation where skilled anesthetists are in short supply.Keywords: maternal death on the table, pre-eclampsiaTropical Journal of Medical ResearchVol. 9(1) 2005: 18-20