Efficacy of Magnesium Sulphate in the Treatment of Eclampsia.

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of magnesium sulphate (MgSO4) in the treatment of eclampsia Design: A cross sectional study Place and duration of study: This study was carried out at DHQ Hospital Faisalabad over a period of 2 ‘/2 years from June 2002 to December 2004. Methods: out of a total 7000 pregnant patient 72 patients had eclampsia and they were admitted through emergency obstetrics care unit. These patients were managed according to the set Protocol-Magnesium sulphate (MgSO4) started as an anticonvulsant in patient who had no contraindication to this agent. Efficacy of MgSO4 in term of control of fits, recurrence of fits, toxicity, maternal and foetal out come were noted. Result: Over 2’/2 study period out of 7000 pregnant patients, 72 patients were admitted through emergency obstetrics care unit with eclampsia (1.02%). Only 2(2.7%) patients were booked. 45(62.5%) patients were primigravida and 27(37.5%) were multigravida. The age ranged between 16-40 years. 56(77.7%) patients were admitted with antepartum, and 14(19.4%) had postpartum eclampsia. Out of 72 patients magnesium sulphate was started in 66(91.6%) patients because of the presence of contraindications in 6(8.3%) patients. In these six patient injection Diazepam was used as an anticonvulsant. Magnesium sulphate was effective in 58(87.8%) patient. 52 patients delivered by caesarean section and 20 delivered vaginally. Patients on magnesium therapy delivered 60(90.9%) alive babies. Two patients had recurrent convulsions. Magnesium sulphate was with hold in 6 (9%) patients because of toxicity. Conclusion: Magnesium sulphate was safe and effective anticonvulsant. Convulsions were controlled in 5 8(87.8%) of patients. Recurrent convulsions occurred only in 3% patients. Monitoring was mainly clinical due to lack of monitoring facilities of serum magnesium level.