Pre-eclampsia, also referred to as toxemia, os a condition that pregnant women can get.

it is marked by high blood pressure accompanied with a high level of protien in the urine. women with pre-clampsia will often also have swelling in the feet,legs, and hands. Pre-eclampsia, when present, usually appeares during the second half of pregnancy, generally in the latter part of the second or in the third trimesters, although it can occur earlier.

In addition symptoms of pre-eclampsia can include: -rapid weight gain caused by significant increase in bodily fluid -abdominl pain -severe headaches -a change in reflexes -reduced output of urine or no urine -dizziness -excissive vomiting

the exact causes of pre-eclampsia are not known, although some researchers suspect poor nutrition, high body fat, or insufficient blood flow to the uteruses possible causes.

the only real cure for pre-eclampsia and eclmpsia is the birth of the baby. Mild pre-eclampsia (blood pressure greater than 140/90) that occurs after 20 weeks of gestation in a woman who did not have a hypertension before; and/or having a small amount of protein in the urine can be managed with careful hospital or in-home observation along with activity restriction.

in developing countries: pre-eclampsia/eclampsia impact 4.4% of all deliveries (1) and may be as high as 18% in some settings in Africa (2) If the rate of life threatening eclamptic convulsions (0.1% of all deliveries) is applied to all deliveries from countries considered to be the least developed, 50,000 cases of women experiencing this serious complication can be expected each year. According to Safe Motherhood. org of the 585,000 maternal annually (3), 13%, or 76,050, are due to eclampsia.

OBJECTIVE:

Upon completion of this case sharing, the student nurse should be able to: 1. Identify the risk factor contributing to the occurrence of the disease. 2. Formulate significant nursing diagnosis, with the significantly related nursing care plan. 3. Identify the different medications administered for this disease their indications, contraindications, side effects, and specific responsibility. 4. Identify the laboratory and diagnostic procedure done with the pre-eclamptic patient, their indication and purposes, and specific nursing responsibilities.

Preeclampsia is a common problem during pregnancy. The condition sometimes referred to as pregnancy-induced hypertension is defined by high blood pressure and excess protein in the urine after 20 weeks of pregnancy. Often, preeclampsia causes only modest increases in blood pressure. Left untreated, however, preeclampsia can lead to serious even fatal complications for both mother and baby.

A. Mild Preeclampsia BP of 140/90 1+ to 2+ proteinuria on random

weight gain of 2 lbs per week on the 2nd trimester and 1 lb per week on the 3rd trimester Slight edema in upper extremities and face

B. Severe Preeclampsia BP of 160/110 3-4+ protenuria on random Oliguria (less than 500 ml/24 hrs)

Cerebral or visual disturbances Epigastric pain Pulmonary edema Peripheral edema Hepatic dysfunction

Eclampsia is an extension of preeclampsia and is characterized by the client experiencing seizures.

INTRODUCTION Pregnancy-induced hypertension is a condition in which vasospasm occurs during pregnancy. Signs of hypertension, proteinuria, and edema develop.PIH, a condition separate from chronic hypertension tends to occur most frequently in primiparas younger than age 20 years or older than 40 years, women who have had five or more pregnancies, women of color, women with a multiple pregnancy, women with hydramnios and women with underlying disease such as heart disease, diabetes with vessel or renal involvement and essential hypertension. The condition may be associated with poor calcium or magnesium intake.