A detailed review of critical illness related to pregnancy

Abstract

Critical illness during pregnancy refers to severe medical conditions that can endanger the health and life of the pregnant woman and the developing fetus. Using critical illness during pregnancy as a topic for a review article can provide valuable insights into the challenges, management strategies, and outcomes associated with high-risk pregnancies. Pregnancy is a unique and complex physiological state that can challenge obstetricians and intensivists. Despite the advances in prenatal care, certain critical pregnancy illnesses are associated with significant feto-maternal morbidity and mortality. Maternal complications arise from abnormalities in physiological changes of pregnancy. This section highlights the common yet severe pregnancy complexities, pathophysiology, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and management in critical care settings to optimize maternal and fetal outcomes. Some of the frequently encountered critical pregnancy illnesses are preeclampsia, eclampsia, HELLP syndrome, amniotic fluid embolism, peripartum cardiomyopathy, placental abruption, postpartum hemorrhage, and ectopic pregnancy. Each condition is discussed separately, further insinuating the need for timely diagnosis and treatment. This article also reviews the current treatment strategies, including blood pressure management, supportive care, and surgical intervention in obstetric hemorrhage and rupture. Critical care in pregnancy warrants profound vigilance and an adept, intensive, multidisciplinary approach, as prompt recognition and intervention decrease mortality and carry lifelong implications for both the mother and child.