CASE SERIES STUDY OF SEVERE PRE-ECLAMPSIA/ECLAMPSIA PATIENTS WITH PERINATAL & MATERNAL MORTALITY DURING THIRD WAVE OF COVID-19 PANDEMIC IN A TERTIARY INSTITUTE

Background: Preeclampsia is a multi-organ disease characterized by the development of hypertension and proteinuria. The World Health Organization estimates that preeclampsia is directly responsible for 10 % of direct maternal mortality in Asia and also leads to signicant neonatal morbidity and mortality. Objective: To ascertain the link between severe pre-eclampsia/ eclampsia patients with perinatal and maternal deaths during the 3rd wave of covid-19 pandemic Methodology: Retrospective Case series study from November 2021 to February 2022 at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology RIMS. Data were collected from 5 severe pre-eclampsia and 2 eclampsia patients admitted in Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department, RIMS. Results: All the 7 patients had perinatal deaths and all (100%) were Unbooked. There were 5 cases of intrauterine deaths (71.43%) and 2 (28.57%) neonatal deaths (Preterm meconium and another vehicle delivery with eclampsia). HELLP syndrome was developed in two cases and retinopathy in 3 cases. Prophylactic MgSo4 was given to all the cases but one maternal death was seen due to massive cerebrovascular accident and eclampsia before reaching the emergency care. Conclusion: Regular antenatal testing with nonstress tests at the time of diagnosis and repeating twice weekly for FGR or oligohydramnios with Umbilical artery Doppler ultrasound weekly if FGR present and timely control of hypertension with medications with low dose aspirin starting between 12 and 16 weeks of gestation will help in reducing both maternal and perinatal morbidity as well as mortality. Self-monitoring of blood pressure in this era of covid 19 pandemic may result in earlier detection of pre-eclampsia