Comparison of high dependency care unit (HDU) in incidance and management of obstetric complications in 24 hours after delivery (normal vaginal delivery) in period 9 months before to 9 months after foundation of this unit

Abstract

Despite significant advances in post-pregnancy intensive care, maternal mortality remains one of the most important challenges for obstetricians. Intensive care in the high dependency care unit (HDU) is more than in the general unit and less than in the intensive care unit (ICU). In this unit, more care is provided to the women in the early hours after delivery (most early postpartum complications are possible at this time). The aim of the present study was to comparison of high dependency care unit (HDU) in incidance and management of obstetric complications in 24 hours after delivery (normal vaginal delivery) in period 9 months before to 9 months after foundation of this unit in Al-Zahra Hospital in Tabriz. Materials and Methods: In the present study, all cases admitted to the HDU of Al-Zahra Hospital of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences were examined. Data collection was performed using a questionnaire, including demographic, clinical, and hospital informations. Finally, the obtained data were analyzed using statistical software. Results: In the present study, 10,742 mothers (5,159 cases related to 9 months before establishment of HDU and 5583 cases related to 9 months after establishment of HDU) were studied. Among these, 139 mothers showed obstetric complications. The obtained results indicated that the number of injected blood and the number of hospitalization days in ICU significantly decreased after establishment of HDU as compared before establishment of HDU (p<0.05). However, no significant differences were observed between before and after establishment of HDU in terms of type of delivery, transfer from HDU to ICU, eclampsia, hematoma, type of hematoma, clinical complications, and types of clinical complications (p>0.05).