Network Event - April 2010

Programme – Network Event April 2010

Network Report – Critical care and obstetrics 2010

This Network event brought together a range of clinical staff from critical care, obstetrics, midwifery and anaesthetics to discuss latest evidence and research relating to patients having need of both obstetrics and critical care services.

A common theme was that deterioration during pregnancy and delivery may be rapid and that patients can become complex to manage very quickly. This emphasises the importance of early identification of clinical deterioration and the need for prompt access to comprehensive critical care management when needed. Conversely, pre-emptive identification and streaming of high vs. low-risk pregnancies to different units is not always reliable, as maternal risks alter during pregnancy.

The Event considered

Identification of critical illness on the Labour Ward
Practical experience from an obstetric HDU. Should every maternity unit have one?
The critically ill mother in Intensive Care – clinical considerations and patient experience
The psychosocial impact of intensive care in recovering mothers – a neglected topic?
Reconfiguration of services in North West London
More information about managing critically ill mothers can be found on our maternity page.