TITLE:
Postpartum Eclampsia in the Department of Obstetrics Gynecology and Reproductive Medicine of the Souro Sanou University Hospital; Burkina Faso: About 76 Cases
AUTHORS:
Yaméogo Rélwendé Barnabé, Sawadogo Amidou, Kaboré Ahmed, Komboigo Béwendin Evelyne, Dembélé Adama, Somé Der Adolphe
KEYWORDS:
Eclampsia, Postpartum, Epidemiology, Prognosis
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology,
Vol.14 No.8,
August
13,
2024
ABSTRACT: Background: Postpartum eclampsia is a life-threatening obstetric emergency. Its management is multidisciplinary. Despite measures taken to accelerate the reduction of maternal, fetal and infant mortality in Burkina Faso, maternal deaths related to postpartum eclampsia persist. The aim of the study was to investigate the epidemiological, clinical and prognostic aspects of postpartum eclampsia in the obstetrics department of the Sourô Sanou University Hospital in Bobo-Dioulasso. Method: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study with retrospective data collection covering the period from June 1, 2018 to May 31, 2019. We included 76 patients in the study; the variables studied were the epidemiological, clinical and prognostic aspects. The data collected were entered on a microcomputer and analyzed with the EPI info version 7.2 software. Results: The prevalence of postpartum eclampsia was 0.87% compared to admissions to the obstetrics department. The average age of the patients was 23 years old with the extremes of 15 and 39 years old. Primiparas accounted for 39.47%, housewives 53%, and home births accounted for 15.79%. Seizures accounted for 55% of the reasons for admission, the average time to onset of these seizures postpartum was 3.8 days with extremes of 1 and 30 days with 45% of seizures occurring postpartum immediately. Maternal complications were noted in 42.10% of cases with 5 cases of Hellp syndrome, 3 cases of renal failure, and 3 cases of acute pulmonary edema. We recorded 4 cases of maternal death, representing a case fatality rate of 5.2%. Conclusion: Postpartum eclampsia is common in the obstetrics department of the Souro Sanou University Hospital Center with a significant case fatality rate. Emphasis should be placed on monitoring and prevention, especially women at risk of developing postpartum eclampsia for better maternal prognosis.