Table 2 Diagnostic criteria of severe maternal morbidity

Pre-eclampsia [19]

SBP ≥ 160 mmHg, or DBP ≥ 110 mmHg plus proteinuria ≥ 0.3 g. day-1 (+ 2 dipstick) or hypertension (≥ 140/90 mmHg) and proteinuria with at least one of the following: headache; visual disturbance; epigastric pain; clonus; platelet count ≤ 100 0.109 -1); AST > 50 iu.l-1; Crvf > 100 umol.l -1; or CrCl < 80.8 ml.min-1. Severe hypertension requiring treatment with intravenous antihypertensive agents.

Eclampsia [25]

Severe preeclampsia characterized by sudden onset of generalized tonic-clonic seizures

Severe postpartum haemorrhage [14, 26]

Documented estimated blood loss ≥ 2000 ml, need for blood transfusion of at least 3 U, or hysterectomy, with or without radiological embolization of uterine arteries

Suspected sepsis [19]

Clinically suspected focus of infection ± positive laboratory culture, treated with antibiotics (excluding commensals and antibiotic prophylaxis)

Shock [18]

Persistent severe hypotension defined as systolic blood pressure < 90 mmHg for 60 min or decreased by 40 mmHg with increased pulse rate

Pulmonary oedema [19]

Breathlessness, crepitations requiring diuretics

Thromboembolism [12]

CTPA confirmed pulmonary embolism, venous thrombosis in the pelvic region, deep venous thrombosis in the extremities or sinus thrombosis

Diabetic ketoacidosis [19]

Hyperglycaemia, metabolic acidosis, ketones in urine

Intracranial tumour [19]

CT ⁄ MRI confirmed

Status epilepticus [19]

History of epilepsy, prolonged multiple seizures

Other serious medical conditions [19, 27,28,29]

Acute pancreatitis, liver failure, acute fatty liver of pregnancy, acute appendicitis or other critical illness