Management of Eclampsia in Resuscitation Department in Sub-Saharan Africa

Introduction: Eclampsia, a serious neurological complication of pre-eclampsia, is manifested by convulsions and/or impaired consciousness during pregnancy or postpartum. It is a major public health problem in Senegal and in sub-Saharan Africa. It is associated with a high maternal-fetal morbidity and mortality. Objective: Evaluate the management and prognosis of eclampsia in intensive care unit. Patients and Method: A descriptive and analytical retrospective study was conducted in an intensive care unit from January 1st, to December 31th, 2024. All patients admitted for eclampsia were included. The epidemiological, clinical, therapeutic and evolutionary data were collected via standardized survey sheets and analyzed with the Sphinx software. Results: Pre-eclampsia affects 16.58% of admissions, mainly among young primiparas. Prenatal monitoring is limited (11.1% without consultations) and seizures most often occur before childbirth (61.1%). Severe arterial hypertension (33.3%) and significant proteinuria (94.4%) are common. The treatment is based on magnesium sulfate (100%), antihypertensives (75%) and cesarean section (86.1%). Maternal complications (38.9%) include renal failure and HELLP syndrome while prematurity was the most common fetal complication (55.5%). The rate of maternal deaths is 8.3%, two thirds of which are due to acute kidney failure and the perinatal rate is 8.1%. Conclusion: Eclampsia remains an obstetric emergency of concern in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in Senegal, strongly increasing maternal-fetal morbidity and mortality. To remedy this, it is essential to strengthen prenatal monitoring for early detection, improve the training of professionals with standardized protocols, raise awareness among communities about warning signs and optimize infrastructure for easier access to essential care. A multisectoral approach is needed to sustainably reduce this burden.