What does an eclamptic seizure look like?

During the first 15 to 30 seconds of a seizure, the entire body stiffens as the muscles contract. The back and neck arch. The woman may cry out as the vocal cords contract or may turn blue if she is having difficulty breathing. During the next 30 to 45 seconds, the muscles jerk, or convulse, in a rhythmic pattern.

What is the drug of choice for eclamptic seizure?

Magnesium sulfate is the drug of choice for treating eclampsia.

Why does eclampsia cause seizure?

Damage to your arteries may restrict blood flow. It can produce swelling in the blood vessels in your brain and to your growing baby. If this abnormal blood flow through vessels interferes with your brain’s ability to function, seizures may occur.

How do you deal with an eclamptic fit?

Eclamptic seizures are treated with magnesium sulphate (Table 4). The patient should be assessed for signs of hypermagnesaemia (hyper-reflexia, respiratory depression), and the fetus monitored via continuous CTG. 4 g in 100 ml0. 9 % NaCl.

How do you prevent an eclamptic seizure?

The drug of choice to treat and prevent eclampsia is magnesium sulfate. Familiarity with second-line medications phenytoin and diazepam/lorazepam is required for cases in which magnesium sulfate may be contraindicated (eg, myasthenia gravis) or ineffective.

Can eclampsia be cured?

The only way to cure the symptoms of eclampsia is to deliver the baby. Allowing the pregnancy to continue while the mother has eclampsia can result in complications. In most cases, the symptoms of eclampsia resolve themselves within 6 weeks after the baby is born.

Should a woman with an eclamptic fit be delivered immediately?

Delivery is indicated urgently if there is evidence of severe, progressive disease such as headache, blurred vision, scotomata, epigastric pain, DBP greater than 110 mm Hg, clonus, coagulopathy, raised creatinine, or liver enzymes. Table 6 summarises drug treatment of eclampsia.