Severe preeclampsia - maternal and fetal outcome.

Ninety patients with severe preeclampsia were reviewed. There was one maternal mortality and two patients who developed pulmonary edema. The corrected perinatal mortality rate was 143/100. Epidural anesthesia did not adversely affect fetal outcome. Perinatal morbidity and mortality was mainly related to the development of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). Twenty-three neonates developed respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). RDS was strongly associated (P less than .001) with gestational age. RDS was not associated with mode of delivery, sex and perinatal asphyxia.