Lock It In
Why Severe Preeclampsia Changes the Priority
Severe preeclampsia is more than an elevated blood pressure reading.
Severe preeclampsia is more than an elevated blood-pressure reading. Abnormal placental development produces systemic endothelial dysfunction, vasoconstriction, and increased capillary permeability. The result is reduced organ perfusion alongside leakage of fluid into tissues, including the lungs and brain. A pregnant patient with a blood pressure of 168/112 mm Hg, a severe headache, or new visual symptoms may look relatively stable until a seizure occurs. The nurse therefore acts on the pattern of severe hypertension plus maternal symptoms or organ dysfunction rather than waiting for convulsions. Magnesium sulfate is given to prevent or treat seizures. It is not an antihypertensive, so urgent blood-pressure management must occur at the same time.