Coagulation profile in severe pre-eclampsia and eclampsia in Ilorin, Nigeria: implications for anaesthetic management in operative obstetrics

BACKGROUND: Severe preeclampsia and eclampsia are associated with coagulopathy which may be a contraindication to central neural axial blockade for caesarean section. Many investigations of bleeding tendencies are not done in our environment because of logistic reasons and emergency presentations of these patients.The study was designed to determine the coagulation profile of severe preeclamptic and eclamptic women in labour and possibly arrive at affordable and readily available investigation(s) that can be used in excluding bleeding tendencies in these patients.