Clinical Study of Eclampsia in a Tertiary Care Hospital

Objective: The study was undertaken to analyse the epidemiological factors associated with eclampsia and to assess the maternal and perinatal outcome. Methodology: This is a retrospective study done in a tertiary care centre,Jorhat Medical College and Hospital, Assam between January 2015 to December 2015. Case records of all eclampsia patients admitted during this period were collected and analysed. Findings: This study showed that incidence of eclampsia in our hospital is 7.1 per 1000 deliveries. It is more common in the age group of 20 to 24 years (52.83%) and primigravidae (77.36%). 60.38% had irregular antenatal check-up and maximum patients had seizures before the onset of labour (69.81%).45.28% eclamptic patients presented with seizures at ≥ 37 completed weeks . Commonest mode of delivery was caesarean section (60.38%). Out of 53 patients, 26 (49.06%) had complications. 73.58% cases delivered live babies but 9.43% had early neonatal death. Conclusion: Eclampsia is still one of the important and common obstetric emergencies in upper Assam, which has a significant role in maternal and perinatal outcome. Regular Antenatal Care (ANC), proper health education, improvements of socio-economic conditions and spreading of awareness in the community has major roles in prevention of eclampsia. Timely and appropriate intervention including primary management, early referral and judicious termination of pregnancy help in reducing morbidity and mortality of both mother and fetus.