Postpartum Readmission

Postpartum Hypertension

This is a retrospective chart review of women who labored and delivered in a single health care center. From that large group the investigators will evaluate women who were re-admitted in the post partum period for a hypertensive disorder. The study will also look at Controls, a group of women with similar risk factors but did not require readmission.

Preeclampsia is a pregnancy-specific multisystem disorder of unknown etiology. The disorder affects approximately 10 percent of pregnancies worldwide constituting one of the greatest causes of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality worldwide. (1) Preeclampsia is defined by the new onset of elevated blood pressure after 20 weeks of gestation. It is considered severe if blood pressure is increased substantially or symptoms of end-organ damage (including fetal growth restriction) occur. There is no single reliable, cost-effective screening test for preeclampsia, and there are no well-established measures for primary prevention. Management before the onset of labor includes close monitoring of maternal and fetal status. Management during delivery includes seizure prophylaxis with magnesium sulfate and, if necessary, medical management of hypertension. Delivery remains the ultimate treatment. Preeclampsia leads to eclampsia. Symptoms of preeclampsia include: weight gain, headaches, right upper quadrant pain, swelling of hands and feet, and vision problems Symptoms of eclampsia include: muscle aches and pains, seizures, severe agitation, unconsciousness Current obstetric treatment in the United States has resulted in a shift of eclampsia toward the postpartum period, with most cases being seen as late post partum. During the post partum period a patient's blood pressure peaks around 3-6 days post delivery, however most patients are discharged home by 48 hours. This results in re-admission to the hospital for some women. The investigator's goal is to review and evaluate women who have been readmitted for a preeclampsia or eclampsia episode during the post partum period to assess if there are preceding signs or symptoms leading to her re admission.

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