"Levels of expertise and staffing at tertiary hospitals may allow greater attempts and success with vaginal delivery among women with preeclampsia compared with primary or secondary hospitals," writes Dorothea Mostello, M.D., assistant professor of obstetrics, gynecology and women's health at Saint Louis University School of Medicine.

Between 5 and 8 percent of women develop preeclampsia -- a condition characterized by high blood pressure and protein in the urine -- during their pregnancies. Women may experience symptoms including swelling, sudden weight gain, headaches and vision changes or may have little indication of a problem. Preeclampsia can develop gradually or very rapidly.

"Our analysis of a large population of women with preeclampsia revealed that the likelihood of cesarean delivery is greater at primary and secondary care hospitals than tertiary care hospitals," Dr. Mostello wrote.

In addition to the services provided at primary and secondary hospitals, tertiary hospitals offer complete maternity and neonatal care, intrapartum and neonatal intensive care, transport service, outreach education service and perinatal research.

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Contact: Nancy Solomon
solomonn@slu.edu
314-977-8017
Saint Louis University
3-Dec-2003