The Impact of Intensive Care on Pregnant Mothers and Their Newborns

This investigation aimed to identify the clinical features and results for both mothers and newborns of obstetrics admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). This retrospective study analyzed expectant patients admitted to the ICU at Imam Khomeini Hospital in Ahvaz from March 2020 to March 2021. The medical records of these women were evaluated to determine their clinical features and results.

During the research period, 30 expectant patients were admitted to the ICU. Most of these mothers were under 35 years old (80%), with 11 being nulliparous (36.67%) and 2 (6.66 %) were multiple pregnancies. Of these women, 56.66% (n=17) had an underlying disease, 46.15% (n=12) had abnormal echocardiography results, and 80% (n=24) were delivered via cesarean section (CS). Admission reasons were divided between obstetric (n=13, 43.33%) and non-obstetric (n=17, 56.67%), with the most frequent causes being pulmonary thromboembolism (20%), pregnancy-induced hypertension disorders (16.67%), sickle cell anemia (SCA) (16.67%), platelet reduction (10%), and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) (10%). The average length of stay in the ICU was 3.03±1.5 days. Of the newborns, 56.66% (n=17) were premature, with an average birth weight of 2297.33±937.98 grams. While there were no maternal deaths in the ICU, perinatal mortality was reported at 20% (n=6).

This research discovered that the leading causes of ICU admission were pulmonary thromboembolism, hypertension disorders during pregnancy, and SCA. Furthermore, frequent traits among admitted patients included being under 35 years old, nulliparity, having underlying diseases, and delivery via CS.