Treatment of eclampsia by magnesium sulphate

Objective: to evaluate the effectiveness of low dose magnesium sulphate in control of convulsions in eclampsia and to assess the magnesium related toxicity and pregnancy outcome. material and methods: this prospective study was carried out in the department of obstetrics and gynaecology b labour room,khyber teaching hospital,peshawar from april 2013 to december 2013. fifty cases of eclampsia were randomly selected for inclusion in the study to find out the efficacy of low dose magnesium sulphate regime to control eclamptic convulsions. patients were excluded from the study if there were doubts about the diagnosis because the accompanying relatives did not witness the seizure or who has received magnesium sulphate or diazepam as anticonvulsant prior to admission to the hospital. those patients who presented with complications like cerebrovascular accidents,renal failure,aspiration pneumonitis and hellp syndrome were also excluded from the study. the loading dose of magnesium sulphate was 9 gm. following this 2.5 gm was given intramuscularly every four hour for 24 hours. patients were monitored hourly by observing their respiratory rate,knee jerk and urine output. maternal and perinatal outcome and magnesium toxicity were analyzed. standard principles of management of eclampsia was followed. results: with low dose magnesium sulphate regime,convulsions were controlled in 100 percent cases. no single case got recurrence or shifting to pritchard regime. conclusion: low dose magnesium sulphate regime is safe and effective for treatment of eclamptic fits.