New Zealand Obstetricians' Management of Hypertension in Pregnancy A Questionnaire Survey

A questionnaire about the management of hypertension in pregnancy was sent to the 150 members of the Royal New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. Sixty five out of a total of 77 replies were suitable for analysis. There was a wide variation in the criteria for diagnosis and the outpatient and inpatient investigation and treatment. The commonest drugs prescribed in imminent eclampsia were hydralazine as an anti-hypertensive, and diazepam or phenytoin as anticonvulsants. All clinicians practised aggressive management with induction of delivery if significant proteinuria complicated hypertension in pregnancy. Glucocorticoid therapy for the premature induction of fetal lung maturity in mothers and severe hypertension was considered beneficial by some, yet contraindicated by others.