Peripartum intensive care

Abstract

Objective. To determine the prevalence rate of intensive care unit (ICU) admissions in Hospital Corporation of America (HCA) hospitals and further delineate indications and outcomes in a retrospective review at one such hospital.

Study Design. Diagnosis-related group and revenue codes were combined to calculate maternity admissions to the ICU in HCA hospitals. Prospectively logged maternal admissions were retrospectively reviewed for calendar years 2004–2008 at Presbyterian/St. Luke's Medical Center (PSL) using inpatient medical records.

Results. The prevalence rate of peripartum ICU admissions in HCA hospitals among 602,488 deliveries was 0.41%. At PSL, a high-acuity maternal fetal service, the occurrence of ICU admissions was 0.62%. Leading indications were hemorrhage and preeclampsia/eclampsia; multiples were over-represented, 20% required hysterectomy and nearly one-third of the patients were ventilated.

Conclusions. The full scope of ICU resources should be available to the obstetric patient as the maternal requirement for such care is not rare.

Keywords:

• Intensive care
• maternity
• critical care

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.