Proper Detection and Treatment of Preeclampsia
A Preeclampsia Attorney at SP Justice is ready to help with your case because we understand the importance and growing need for proper obstetric care. Research shows that the quantity of global maternal deaths has dropped dramatically in the past few decades. However, in the United States maternal death rates have more than doubled since the 1980s, showing that women are still at risk for pregnancy complications that can end in mortality (Robeznieks, 2015).
Preeclampsia is a disorder that involves a rapid increase in blood pressure, specifically during pregnancy and the postpartum period. This condition still affects 5% of all pregnancies and can be potentially life threatening for both the mother and child. Unless it is properly detected and treated, preeclampsia can result in devastating consequences.
The major problems associated with preeclampsia are hypertension and proteinuria (i.e., protein present in urine). Diagnosis in pregnant women typically requires a blood pressure higher than 140/90 mmHg and a urine sample with greater than 0.3 grams of protein. Other signs that signal the onset of preeclampsia include severe headaches, abdominal pain, swelling, changes in vision, nausea, and difficulty breathing.
If the disorder progresses rapidly, a woman may not realize she is suffering from the symptoms right away. Frequent blood pressure and urine tests can help with detection, especially when other symptoms are not reported. If not treated, it may result in stroke, seizure, multiple organ failure, or even the death of the mother and/or the child according to the Preeclampsia Foundation.
The most severe cases can lead to other disorders including eclampsia and HELLP syndrome. Mothers with eclampsia have grand mal seizures in addition to all the other preeclampsia symptoms. If a woman develops eclampsia, inducing labor is required no matter the age of the fetus according to a source on the Mayo Clinic Staff. HELLP syndrome is another severe condition that results from preeclampsia. HELLP stands for hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelet count and involves the breakdown of red blood cells. This disorder may result in harm to many organ systems, but it may be hard to detect because it can develop quickly before the mother acquires high blood pressure or proteinuria. Eclampsia and HELLP syndrome are among the top four causes of maternal death in the United States. Worldwide, Preeclampsia is linked with 10 to 15 percent of maternal mortality cases.
Reliable screening tests have not yet been developed to detect the onset of preeclampsia; however, it is essential that pregnant women be regularly monitored. Frequent prenatal visits should increase the likelihood of detection. Obstetricians should look at multiple factors in a woman’s pregnancy in addition to blood pressure and urine tests. This is especially important after the 20th week of pregnancy, which is the most common time for the onset of preeclampsia. Once a mother is diagnosed with preeclampsia, it is common to develop a management plan in accordance with your obstetrics practitioner.
Your obstetrician should have two main objectives for treatment:
1) the birth of a healthy infant
2) restoring the mother’s health
Also, the patient should be under continued hospital surveillance once preeclampsia is diagnosed. Blood pressure should be checked at least four times a day, and medication to reduce blood pressure may be administered. In severe cases, the mother should stay in the hospital until delivery with frequent blood pressure and urine tests. In addition to medication, the mother may be put on a magnesium sulfate drip to lower her risk of developing eclampsia or reoccurrences. Even in minor cases, it may be necessary to induce labor, and in severe cases, a cesarean delivery may be recommended.
Contact a Preeclampsia Attorney at SP Justice
The medical malpractice attorneys of Shocklee Paolino have seen the consequences that can result when obstetrics practitioners and hospitals fail to recognize and properly treat preeclampsia. A preeclampsia attorney understands the steps doctors and hospitals must take to diagnose and treat preeclampsia. If you believe you or a loved one has received substandard obstetrical care related to preeclampsia and have suffered as a result, call a preeclampsia attorney at SP Justice today at (727) 498-8771 and let us listen to you to determine whether your provider should be held accountable for their actions.