Clinical characterization of obstetric patients with disseminated intravascular coagulation

Abstract

Background: medical attention to the obstetric patient with disseminated intravascular coagulation requires intensive care services to reduce the mortality this condition may bring about.

Objective: to characterize the obstetric patients with disseminated intravascular coagulation admitted to the intensive care unit of “Dr. Ernesto Guevara de la Serna” General Teaching Hospital, from January 1^st 2006 to December 31^st 2015.

Methods: a retrospective, longitudinal and descriptive study was carried out, in a sample of 28 obstetric and puerperal patients admitted to the intensive care unit and during the period herein mentioned.

Results: according to the etiological diagnosis, the highest incidence was caused by hypertensive disorders with 35,7 %, followed by hemorrhagic shock with 21,42 % and sepsis as well as abortive procedures with 14,3 %. The most frequent complications were found in the multi-organic failure, septic shock and acute respiratory infection with 53,6 % in each case, followed by left ventricular dysfunction (39,3 %) and hepatic dysfunction (35,7 %). 96,43 % of the patients remained admitted for more than 72 hours, with a mortality of 53,6 %. There were comorbidities in all those who died for 100 %, while they were only present in 23,08 % of those who survived.

Conclusions: a characterization of the obstetric patients admitted to the intensive care unit with disseminated intravascular coagulation was made. Most of the patients stayed in the unit for more than 72 hours and presented an important number of comorbidities.