Management principles of the critically ill obstetric patient

Clin Chest Med. 2011 Mar;32(1):53-60. doi: 10.1016/j.ccm.2010.10.003.

Abstract

The goals in management of critically ill obstetric patients involve intensive monitoring and physiologic support for patients with life-threatening but potentially reversible conditions. Management principles of the mother should also take the fetus and gestational age into consideration. The most common reasons for intensive care admissions (ICU) in the United States and United Kingdom are hypertensive disorders, sepsis, and hemorrhage. The critically ill obstetric patient poses several challenges to the clinicians involved in her care, because of the anatomic and physiologic changes that take place during pregnancy.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Acute Kidney Injury / etiology
  • Acute Kidney Injury / therapy
  • Airway Management
  • Cardiomyopathies / etiology
  • Cardiomyopathies / therapy
  • Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation
  • Cesarean Section
  • Critical Care*
  • Critical Illness / epidemiology
  • Critical Illness / therapy*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hypertension, Pregnancy-Induced / therapy
  • Life Support Care
  • Physical Examination
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Complications / etiology
  • Pregnancy Complications / therapy*
  • Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular / therapy
  • Prenatal Care
  • Prevalence
  • Prognosis
  • Respiratory Distress Syndrome / etiology
  • Respiratory Distress Syndrome / therapy
  • Respiratory Therapy
  • Shock / therapy