How is eclampsia treated

How is eclampsia treated? 

The primary objective of treatment is to reduce blood pressure without compromising either uteroplacental or maternal renal perfusion.

Intracranial hypertension is usually present in patients with encephalopathy or coma, and thus intracranial pressure should be monitored in such persons and managed with intubation and hyperventilation.

These patients should also be imaged by computed tomography to assess for ICH and cerebral edema. 

Eclamptic seizures must be aggressively controlled due to increased fetal mortality and increased intracranial pressure in the mother.

Magnesium sulfate is the treatment of choice for prevention of seizures from preeclampsia as well as treatment of seizures from eclampsia.

Magnesium sulfate has been shown to be superior to both phenytoin and diazepam in reducing the risk of recurrence of seizures in the treatment of eclampsia. 

The definitive treatment for eclampsia occurring before birth is termination of the pregnancy by delivery of the fetus.

The risk of recurrent seizures decreases within 24 hours following delivery, and long-term prophylaxis of eclampsia-induced seizures is unnecessary.

Although hypertension resolves more slowly, normalization of blood pressure occurs in the first postpartum week.

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