Critical care management of gynaecological patients in Enugu, Nigeria.

A retrospective study of the management of gynaecological patients admitted to the general intensive care unit (ICU) of the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Enugu, Nigeria, over a 6-year span was carried out. Out of a total of 816 patients admitted to the ICU during the study period, 21 (2.6%) were gynaecological patients with the following diagnoses: generalized sepsis, postoperative respiratory distress, hypovolaemic shock, preoperative anaemia and mennorhagia, and major surgery with potential for major complications. The mortality rate was 28.6% with six deaths, sepsis being the major cause of death (four fatalities).