Obstetric High Dependency Unit Research Articles

Anesthetic Management in Preeclampsia Patients with Thalassemia Minor B: A Case Report

Introduction: One of the complications of anesthesia that can be encountered in thalassemia patients is cardiovascular instability caused by chronic anemia, cardiomyopathy, and endocrinopathy. In addition, patients with preeclampsia may also experience postoperative risks such as sustained hypertension, stroke, venous thromboembolism, and seizures. This case report will discuss the anesthetic management of pregnant women with preeclampsia and β thalassemia minor.
 Case presentation: The patient is a pregnant woman G6P0141, 34 weeks gestation, with preeclampsia and a history of minor β thalassemia without therapy. Patients with thalassemia minor are often asymptomatic before pregnancy, but physiological changes during pregnancy can contribute to anemia during pregnancy. Beta thalassemia minor is also associated with an increased incidence of hypertension in pregnancy. Neuraxial anesthesia is recommended in preeclamptic patients to avoid severe hypertension and has a protective effect against postoperative apnea in premature infants.
 Conclusion: Anesthetic management in asymptomatic patients with minor thalassemia is not much different from normal pregnant women. The risk of bleeding needs special attention, especially in thalassemia patients who have anemia. In patients with preeclampsia, neuraxial anesthesia is preferred over general anesthesia. Postoperative patient care is carried out in an obstetric high dependency unit (OHDU). The patient went home after being treated for 3 days without complications at the hospital.

The evolution of the midwife in the obstetric high dependency unit.

This study involves two stand-alone tertiary level maternity hospitals with a combined average of 17,000 births per year, and with approximately 300 obstetric high dependency unit (OHDU) admissions annually. Many midwives feel that working in an OHDU does not constitute normal midwifery work and they have voiced concerns regarding their training in this setting. Midwives and nurses from different departments throughout the two hospitals are often asked to care for the OHDU patients. Co-location and expansion of a new OHDU, as well as a discussion around staffing, prompted this questionnaire. The aim of this study was to formally assess midwives' and nurses' attitudes and confidence working in an OHDU. After obtaining ethics committee approval, we conducted a survey and collected information on previous training in critical care, level of competence with HDU-related equipment and management of common HDU conditions. In total, 188 staff participated in the survey (38% response rate). The majority (n = 142, 76%) did not feel competent caring for critically ill patients despite almost 40% (n = 69) saying they had experience doing so. Nurses or dual trained midwives were more likely to state they felt competent caring for critically ill patients, with only 2 midwives feeling competent (2.2%) compared to 32 nurses or dual trained staff (34.4%), p < 0.01. One hundred forty-seven (78%) and 136 (72%) respondents felt confident managing major haemorrhage and sepsis respectively. One hundred sixty-nine (89%) respondents would be interested in further training. A greater proportion of nurses and dual trained midwives feel confident caring for ODHU patients. This survey suggests that a mixture of specialty-trained critical care nurses and midwives is required in order to provide a full complement of HDU care to both the antenatal and postnatal women.

Role of Salivary Uric Acid Versus Serum Uric Acid in Predicting Maternal Complications of Pre-Eclampsia in a Rural Hospital in Central India: A Two-Year, Cross-Sectional Study.

BackgroundHypertensive disorders during pregnancy are an important topic of concern, specifically in rural and remote areas of India where there is a lack of awareness and it is difficult to maintain proper follow-up of pregnant females to screen them for complications developed during pregnancy. Gestational hypertension and pre-eclampsia result in the abruption of the placenta, hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, low platelet count syndrome, eclampsia, and disseminated intravascular coagulation, which can be a serious threat to the health of the mother and the fetus. Therefore, it is important to identify biomarkers for diagnosing and predicting the complications of pre-eclampsia that may aid the obstetric high-dependency units based in rural areas to tackle this important health hazard during pregnancy.MethodologyA total of 180 singleton pregnant women of more than 34 weeks of gestational age were enrolled in this study. All women were divided into three groups (control group, severe pre-eclampsia, and non-severe pre-eclampsia) based on the severity of blood pressure and the presence of proteinuria (≥+1 by the dipstick method). Salivary and serum uric acid levels were measured through morning samples, and all patients were monitored for the development of complications and outcomes. Salivary uric acid and serum uric acid levels were correlated with each other and with maternal complications of pre-eclampsia.ResultsMean salivary uric acid (mg/dL) in severe pre-eclampsia was (6.72 ± 0.49) significantly higher compared to non-severe pre-eclampsia (4.75 ± 0.94) and control (3.13 ± 0.43). Mean serum uric acid (mg/dL) in severe pre-eclampsia was (8.13 ± 0.87) significantly higher compared to non-severe pre-eclampsia (6.23 ± 0.76) and control (3.85 ± 0.46).The lowest best cut-off value of maternal salivary uric acid was 5.06 mg/dL, above which one can predict maternal complications with a diagnostic accuracy of 78.33%.ConclusionsSalivary uric acid and serum uric acid levels are significantly raised in cases of pre-eclampsia in comparison to normal pregnancy. Salivary uric acid and serum uric acid are correlated significantly indicating that salivary uric acid can function as a cost-effective, novel marker to provide an idea about serum uric acid levels. The prognostic accuracy of salivary uric acid was good in predicting maternal complications among cases of pre-eclampsia (severe and non-servere) and early-onset maternal complications. Therefore, it may be utilized as a helpful marker to identify high-risk patients.

Severe maternal morbidity: admission shift from intensive care unit to obstetric high-dependency unit

BackgroundTo study temporal trends of intensive care unit (ICU) admission in obstetric population after the introduction of obstetric high-dependency unit (HDU).MethodsThis is a retrospective study of consecutive obstetric patients admitted to the ICU/HDU in a provincial referral center in China from January 2014 to December 2019. The collected information included maternal demographic characteristics, indications for ICU and HDU admission, the length of ICU stay, the total length of in-hospital stay and APACHE II score. Chi-square and ANOVA tests were used to determine statistical significance. The temporal changes were assessed with chi-square test for linear trend.ResultsA total of 40,412 women delivered and 447 (1.11%) women were admitted to ICU in this 6-year period. The rate of ICU admission peaked at 1.59% in 2016 and then dropped to 0.67% in 2019 with the introduction of obstetric HDU. The average APACHE II score increased significantly from 6.8 to 12.3 (P < 0.001) and the average length of ICU stay increased from 1.7 to 7.1 days (P < 0.001). The main indications for maternal ICU admissions were hypertensive disorders in pregnancy (39.8%), cardiac diseases (24.8%), and other medical disorders (21.5%); while the most common reasons for referring to HDU were hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (46.5%) and obstetric hemorrhage (43.0%). The establishment of HDU led to 20% reduction in ICU admission, which was mainly related to obstetric indications.ConclusionsThe introduction of HDU helps to reduce ICU utilization in obstetric population.

P.71 Effect of primigravida, multiple pregnancy and mode of delivery on critical care interventions necessary in an obstetric high dependency unit

P.71 Effect of primigravida, multiple pregnancy and mode of delivery on critical care interventions necessary in an obstetric high dependency unit

P.99 Empowering midwives with arterial-line management

Introduction: Arterial pulse waveform analysis provides beat- to-beat monitoring of maternal cardiac output and is increasingly utilised in the management of obstetric patients. Common indications include preeclampsia, haemorrhage, obesity or cardiac disease. Such patients would ordinarily be managed in a high dependence or critical care area and 18% of women cared for in our obstetric high dependency unit required invasive arterial monitoring. We observed varying degrees of comfort amongst midwifery staff on managing arterial lines and sought to formally assess this.

Epidemiology, Outcomes, and Risk Factors for Mortality in Critically Ill Women Admitted to an Obstetric High-Dependency Unit in Sierra Leone.

A better understanding of the context-specific epidemiology, outcomes, and risk factors for death of critically ill parturients in resource-poor hospitals is needed to tackle the still alarming in-hospital maternal mortality in African countries. From October 2017 to October 2018, we performed a 1-year retrospective cohort study in a referral maternity hospital in Freetown, Sierra Leone. The primary endpoint was the association between risk factors and high-dependency unit (HDU) mortality. Five hundred twenty-three patients (median age 25 years, interquartile range [IQR]: 21-30 years) were admitted to the HDU for a median of 2 (IQR: 1-3) days. Among them, 65% were referred with a red obstetric early warning score (OEWS) code, representing 1.17 cases per HDU bed per week; 11% of patients died in HDU, mostly in the first 24 hours from admission. The factors independently associated with HDU mortality were ward rather than postoperative referrals (odds ratio [OR]: 3.21; 95% CI: 1.48-7.01; P = 0.003); admissions with red (high impairment of patients' vital signs) versus yellow (impairment of vital signs) or green (little or no impairment of patients' vital signs) OEWS (OR: 3.66; 95% CI: 1.15-16.96; P = 0.04); responsiveness to pain or unresponsiveness on the alert, voice, pain unresponsive scale (OR: 5.25; 95% CI: 2.64-10.94; P ≤ 0.0001); and use of vasopressors (OR: 3.24; 95% CI: 1.32-7.66; P = 0.008). Critically ill parturients were predominantly referred with a red OEWS code and usually required intermediate care for 48 hours. Despite the provided interventions, death in the HDU was frequent, affecting one of 10 critically ill parturients. Medical admission, a red OEWS code, and a poor neurological and hemodynamic status were independently associated with mortality, whereas adequate oxygenation was associated with survival.

Cost-Utility of Intermediate Obstetric Critical Care in a Resource-Limited Setting: A Value-Based Analysis.

Background:Sierra Leone faces among the highest maternal mortality rates worldwide. Despite this burden, the role of life–saving critical care interventions in low–resource settings remains scarcely explored. A value-based approach may be used to question whether it is sustainable and useful to start and run an obstetric intermediate critical care facility in a resource–poor referral hospital. We also aimed to investigate whether patient outcomes in terms of quality of life justified the allocated resources.Objective:To explore the value-based dimension performing a cost-utility analysis with regard to the implementation and one-year operation of the HDU. The primary endopoint was the quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) of patients admitted to the HDU, against direct and indirect costs. Secondary endpoints included key procedures or treatments performed during the HDU stay.Methods:The study was conducted from October 2, 2017 to October 1, 2018 in the obstetric high dependency unit (HDU) of Princess Christian Maternity Hospital (PCMH) in Freetown, Sierra Leone.Findings:523 patients (median age 25 years, IQR 21–30) were admitted to HDU. The total 1 year investment and operation costs for the HDU amounted to €120,082 – resulting in €230 of extra cost per admitted patient. The overall cost per QALY gained was of €10; this value is much lower than the WHO threshold defining high cost effectiveness of an intervention, i.e. three times the current Sierra Leone annual per capita GDP of €1416.Conclusion:With an additional cost per QALY of only €10.0, the implementation and one-year running of the case studied obstetric HDU can be considered a highly cost-effective frugal innovation in limited resource contexts. The evidences provided by this study allow a precise and novel insight to policy makers and clinicians useful to prioritize interventions in critical care and thus address maternal mortality in a high burden scenario.

The critically ill mother: Recognition and management (who, where and how?)

There is an ongoing debate about the management of the critically ill mother, notably with regards to who should manage this group of patients (the intensivist, the obstetric anaesthetist, or the obstetrician?) and where is the ideal place to manage them (labour ward, obstetric high dependency unit or the intensive care unit?). To make the most appropriate choice, an understanding of how to recognise maternal critical illness is paramount. Using the modified early obstetric warning system score (MEOWS) for obstetric patients is a useful tool 1. MEOWS looks at additional parameters to the standard early warning systems parameters with modified triggers to suit the altered physiology in the pregnant patient. Other predictors like APACHE and SOFA scores may also be used to predict maternal mortality 2. Data from several national audit and surveillance programs such as MBRRACE-UK (Mothers and Babies: Reducing Risk Through Audits and Confidential Enquiries across the UK) 3, UKOSS (The UK Obstetric Surveillance System), and ICNARC (Intensive Care National Audit & Research Centre) are used to aid the understanding of why mothers die in childbirth and up to six weeks postpartum and which critically ill mothers are admitted to the intensive care unit and the reason for their admission 4. Audit reports show that a significant number of deaths reported in the maternal mortality reports are associated with suboptimal care. There is a great need for an evidence-based triage system for the critically ill obstetric patient in order to help clinicians direct them to the appropriate level of care and avoid situations of suboptimal care. Regionalizing maternal critical care may help develop this triage system by increasing the exposure to such patients. Deciding on who should manage these patients will depend on the level of training and expertise of the team members involved in the management on how to detect an acutely deteriorating mother. The team members should include obstetricians, anaesthetists, intensivists, intensive care nurses and midwives. The training can be achieved using different educational approaches that are competency-based to improve the knowledge and skills in detecting signs of deterioration in order to take the appropriate actions. Multidisciplinary teams should train together using simulation-based learning focusing on human factors and communication skills 5. Deciding on where these patients should be managed will depend on the level of organ support and monitoring available as well as the access to support services such as obstetric and neonatal services, regardless of what the terminology of that location is. The different models of delivering care to the critically ill obstetric patient with the different requirements for these areas are highlighted in Table 1. Taking all the previous factors into consideration will help find the answer to the WHO, WHERE and HOW question.

Successful pregnancy outcome in a multiparous lady with medical myriad-mixed connective tissue disorder, tuberculosis, chronic hypertension and recurrent pregnancy loss

Autoimmune diseases/mixed connective tissue disorders are chronic and complex group of disorders with multi-systemic involvement. Untreated cases have significant morbidity and poor quality of life. There is a T helper cell paradigm from T helper1 to T helper 2 in pregnancy and autoimmune diseases may flare or improve in pregnancy depending on the type of autoimmune disease and pre-conception disease activity. There is enough evidence to support that individuals affected with autoimmune diseases are susceptible to tuberculosis (TB) infection and conversely auto-antibodies like antinuclear antibody, and rheumatoid factor are detected in sera of patients with active tuberculosis. If this association applies in pregnancy and if immunosuppressive state of pregnancy would further augment this association is not reported. We report a rare case of a 40 year old multigravida with mixed connective tissue disorder (MCTD) with features of systemic lupus erythematosus, deforming rheumatoid arthritis with gangrenous changes and auto-amputation of toes. She had reactivation of TB in the index pregnancy. She was also a chronic hypertensive, hypothyroid and had recurrent pregnancy losses. Index pregnancy was following invitro fertilisation (IVF) conception with donor oocyte and was managed by a multidisciplinary team in obstetric high dependency unit and delivered a healthy baby; both mother and baby were discharged in stable condition. We report this case as there are no reports of MCTD with active TB in pregnancy and to review if pregnancy affects the course of MCTD, TB or association between these two, and management options in such high risk cases.

Critically-Ill Women Admitted to an Obstetric High Dependency Unit in a Resource-Limited Setting

Critically-Ill Women Admitted to an Obstetric High Dependency Unit in a Resource-Limited Setting

Impact of nonpneumatic antishock garment in the management of patients with hypoperfusion due to massive postpartum hemorrhage

Objective: The objective of this article was to compare hemodynamic and perfusion parameters as well as the clinical outcomes in critically ill patients with postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) who received treatment with a nonpneumatic antishock garment (NASG) as part of an intervention package, with a group of patients in similar conditions who did not receive an NASG. Methods: This observational study analyzed a historic cohort of 154 patients with PPH, secondary hypovolemic shock and signs of hypoperfusion who were admitted to this institution from 2012 to 2015. Group 1 (n= 77) was managed with NASG and Group 2 (n = 77) received interventions other than NASG. Hypoperfusion markers and maternal outcomes were compared in both groups. Results: Of 154 patients included in the analysis, 36.4% required a total abdominal hysterectomy (TAH) to achieve hemorrhage control, 98.2% of whom belonged to Group 2 and 1.8% to Group 1 (p = .001). The use of blood products was more common in Group 2 (p < .001), as was the administration of vasoactive agents. The mean number of days of hospitalization at the Obstetric High Dependency Unit (OHDU) was significantly lower in Group 1 and reached a statistically significant p value. Only two cases of maternal death occurred in Group 2. Discussion: The use of NASG in the management of PPH is a cost-effective strategy for patients with severe shock and signs of hypoperfusion and is optimal in a limited-resource scenario. In this study, the use of NASG was related to better outcomes in a statistically significant manner with better results regarding maternal outcomes such as uterine preservation and decreased transfusion requirements and hospital days. Conclusions: NASG, associated with the use of uterotonic agents and other strategies for PPH control, is a safe tool that helps reduce morbimortality in critically ill patients with PPH.

Role of Obstetric High Dependency and Intensive Care Unit in Improving Pregnancy Outcome and Reducing Maternal Mortality-A Study in Rural Central India

Retrospective observational study was carried out from October 2016 to September 2017 in Kasturba Hospital, Mother and Child Health Wing, Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences Sewagram placed in rural central India. Data related to indications for HDU/ICU admission, interventions required, length of stay and outcomes were collected, and results were analyzed.

Medical complications in pregnancy at Mulago Hospital, Uganda's national referral hospital.

Medical complications in pregnancy contribute significantly to maternal morbidity in sub-Saharan Africa. Anecdotally, obstetricians in Uganda do not feel equipped to treat complex medical cases, and receive little support from physicians. The aim of the study was to quantify the burden of complex medical conditions on the obstetric high dependency unit at Mulago National Referral Hospital, and potential deficiencies in the referral of cases and training in obstetric medicine. A prospective audit was taken on the obstetric high dependency unit from April to May 2014. In addition, 50 trainees in obstetrics and gynaecology filled a nine-point questionnaire regarding their experiences. Complex medical disorders of pregnancy accounted for 22/106 (21%) admissions to the high dependency unit, and these cases were responsible for 51% of total bed occupancy, and had a case fatality rate of 6/22 (27.2%). Only 6/14 (43%) of referrals to medical specialties were fulfilled within 48 h. Of the six women who died due to medical conditions, three specialty referrals were made, none of which were fulfilled. Trainees reported deficiencies in obstetric medicine training and in referral of complex conditions. They were least confident addressing non-communicable conditions in pregnancy. Deficiencies exist in the care of women with complex medical conditions in pregnancy in Uganda. Frameworks of obstetric medicine training and referral of complex cases should be explored and adapted to the sub-Saharan African setting.

Obstetric admissions to the critical care unit: a one year experience at a tertiary care referral centre of the developing country

Background: Care of the critically ill pregnant women presents a unique challenge as the assessment, monitoring and the treatment must take into account both maternal and fetal wellbeing as well as physiological changes of pregnancy.Objective: To assess the indications for critical care unit transfer of obstetric and postpartum cases and describe the profile and feto-maternal outcomes of such patients.Methods: This prospective observational study was conducted in department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata from 1st May 2013 to 30th April 2014.Total 50 cases were included and data was analysed by frequency, percentage, paired and unpaired t test, chi square test and test of equality of proportions using SPSS version 20.Results: 0.9% of total obstetric and postpartum admissions required critical care facilities and contributed to 16.67% of CCU admissions. Mean age of patients included in our study was 25.4 years. Most of the patients were admitted antepartum (n=37, 74%) with mean gestational age at admission being 34.2703+6.85018 weeks. More patients presented with obstetric complications (74%, n=37) as compared to medical complications (26%, n=13). The most common indication for admission were major haemorrhage (n=18, 36%) and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (n=17, 34%). There were 16(32%) maternal deaths. MODS (31.25%) and hypovolemic shock (18.75%) were the most common causes of maternal death in our study. Conclusion: The overall mortality was high, emphasizing the need for dedicated obstetric high dependency units.

Midwives’ experiences of working in an obstetric high dependency unit: A qualitative study

Objectivesto understand the challenges experienced by midwives providing obstetric high dependency care and identify the training they perceive is needed for work in an obstetric high dependency unit. Designsixteen midwives who worked in the obstetric high dependency unit participated in one of three focus groups. Focus groups lasted 60–90minutes and were conducted in the workplace and facilitated by author (IE). Data were digitally recorded, transcribed and analysed manually by author (IE), specifically using a ‘codebook’ model to generate codes, categories and themes. Settinga purpose built, two-bed obstetric high dependency unit located in the delivery suite of a large, urban tertiary teaching hospital in New Zealand. Findingsfive themes were conceptualised: Theme 1: ‘high dependency care is not our bread and butter’; the midwives felt that working in the obstetric high dependency work did not constitute ‘normal’ midwifery work. Theme 2: ‘we are family… embracing the baby and partner in HDU’; the midwives recognised that an obstetric high dependency unit enabled the mother and infant to be cared for together, was beneficial for maternal psychosocial wellbeing, and supported mother-infant bonding and breastfeeding. Theme 3: ‘primum non nocere; First, do no harm’; the midwives voiced concern that they lacked the skills and training to provide obstetric high dependency care and considered this a potential risk to sick women in their care. Theme 4: ‘graceful swans and headless chickens’; the midwives reported feelings of stress, anxiety, fear and of being overwhelmed by the demands of obstetric high dependency care. The more experienced midwives were able to portray calmness and poise despite lots going on beneath the surface. This was in contrast to other, often less experienced midwives, who appeared confused and less organised. Theme 5: ‘please sir, can I have some more training?’; the midwives unanimously sought training in the provision of obstetric high dependency care and saw facilitation of training to be a responsibility of the hospital. Key conclusionsmidwives who are competent in obstetric high dependency care are well placed to provide holistic care to sick women within an obstetric high dependency unit. Midwives found this work challenging and identified the need for specific knowledge and skills beyond those required in the provision of care to well women. The midwives sought post-registration training in obstetric high dependency care. These findings are consistent with other studies reported in the literature. Implications for practicepost-registration training must be made available to midwives providing high dependency care to sick women to ensure they have the specialised skills and knowledge for practice. Responsibility to facilitate training rests with hospitals providing this service.

Critically Ill Obstetric Patients in a General Critical Care Unit: A 5 Years' Retrospective Study in a Public Teaching Hospital of Eastern India.

Background:Critical care services are essential for the subset of obstetric patients suffering from severe maternal morbidity. Studies on obstetric critical care are important for benchmarking the issues which need to be addressed while managing critically ill obstetric patients. Although there are several published studies on obstetric critical care from India and abroad, studies from Eastern India are limited. The present study was conducted to fill in this lacuna and to audit the obstetric critical care admissions over a 5 years’ period.Settings and Design:Retrospective cohort study conducted in the general critical care unit (CCU) of a government teaching hospital.Materials and Methods:The records of all obstetric patients managed in the CCU over a span of 5 years (January 2011-December 2015) were analyzed.Results:During the study, 205 obstetric patients were admitted with a CCU admission rate of 2.1 per 1000 deliveries. Obstetric hemorrhage (34.64%) was the most common primary diagnosis among them followed by pregnancy-induced hypertension (26.83%). Severe hemorrhage leading to organ failure (40.48%) was the main direct indication of admission. Invasive ventilation was needed in 75.61% patients, and overall obstetric mortality rate was 33.66%. The median duration (in days) of invasive ventilation was 2 (interquartile range [IQR] 1-7), and the median length of CCU stay (in days) was 5 (IQR 3-9).Conclusions:Adequate number of critical care beds, a dedicated obstetric high dependency unit, and effective coordination between critical care and maternity services may prove helpful in high volume obstetric centers.

Feto-maternal outcomes in obstetric patients with near miss morbidity: an audit of obstetric high dependency unit

Aim: To evaluate and compare the feto-maternal outcomes of pregnant women with potentially life-threatening complications (PLTC) and near miss events admitted to the obstetric high dependency units (OHDU).Methods: Pregnant women with PLTC admitted to the OHDU were enrolled. Feto-maternal outcomes, need for NICU admission and neonatal mortality, were compared between women without near miss events (controls) and those with near miss events.Results: Of the 1505 admissions to the obstetric department during the study period, 1127 delivered at our hospital. Among the deliveries 125 (11%) women were admitted to the OHDU and 19 (15%) of them were referred to the intensive care unit (ICU) of the hospital. The incidence of near miss morbidity (n = 46) was 37% among the mothers admitted to OHDU and 4.1% among the deliveries. The outcomes were similar in both groups for mean birth weight (among live births), neonatal death and still birth or intra-uterine deaths. The mean duration of ICU stay, proportion of ICU admission, and the mean duration of hospital stay were significantly higher for women with near miss events.Conclusion: In the presence of standardized OHDU and an ICU, the feto-maternal outcomes of women with PLTC and near miss event are similar to those without near miss events.

Point-of-care lactate and creatinine analysis for sick obstetric patients at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital in Blantyre, Malawi: A feasibility study.

To achieve good outcomes in critically ill obstetric patients, it is necessary to identify organ dysfunction rapidly so that life-saving interventions can be appropriately commenced. However, timely access to clinical chemistry results is problematic, even in referral institutions, in the sub-Saharan African region. Reliable point-of-care tests licensed for clinical use are now available for lactate and creatinine. We aimed to assess whether implementation of point-of-care testing for lactate and creatinine is feasible in the obstetric unit at the Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital (QECH) in Blantyre, Malawi, by obtaining the opinions of clinical staff on the use of these tests in practice. During a two-month evaluation period nurse-midwives, medical interns, clinical officers, registrars, and consultants were given the opportunity to use StatStrip® and StatSensor® (Nova Biomedical, Waltham, USA) devices, for lactate and creatinine estimation, as part of their routine clinical practice in the obstetric unit. They were subsequently asked to complete a short questionnaire. Thirty-seven questionnaires were returned by participants: 22 from nurse-midwives and the remainder from clinicians. The mean satisfaction score for the devices was 7.6/10 amongst clinicians and 8.0/10 amongst nurse-midwives. The majority of participants stated that the obstetric high dependency unit (HDU) was the most suitable location for the devices. For lactate, 31 participants strongly agreed that testing should be continued and 24 strongly agreed that it would influence patient management. For creatinine, 29 strongly agreed that testing should be continued and 28 strongly agreed that it would influence their patient management. Twenty participants strongly agreed that they trust point-of-care devices. Point-of-care clinical chemistry testing was feasible, practical, and well received by staff, and was considered to have a useful role to play in the clinical care of sick obstetric patients at this referral centre.

Anaesthetic implications for liver disease in pregnancy

### Key points Liver disease in pregnancy is not common but can be a significant cause of maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality, frequently appearing in the triennial confidential enquiries (Table 1). Fulminant hepatic failure is very rare and poses major challenges to the anaesthetist, although it is more common to see women with varying degrees of liver dysfunction, classically considered as occurring specific to pregnancy and incidental to pregnancy.1 The obstetric anaesthetist may be involved with the care of these women either at delivery or during an admission to the obstetric high dependency unit (HDU). View this table: Table 1 Number of deaths related to liver disease, including hepatic complications secondary to pre-eclampsia and eclampsia 1997–2008. *One death as a result of fulminant hepatic failure secondary to hepatic rupture, despite receiving a portocaval shunt. †One death due to liver rupture secondary to a complication of type IV Ehlers–Danlos syndrome; three cases of liver failure: one caused by alcohol abuse; one due to chronic active hepatitis that had caused acquired antithrombin deficiency; and one secondary either to AFLP or to the antiretrovirals they were taking to manage HIV infection. ‡Two deaths from bleeding due to portal hypertension; one death due to a liver abscess and peritonitis; one death due to intra-abdominal bleeding, …