Management of Severe Maternal Hypertension During Pregnancy and Postpartum

In this patient safety bundle, timely standardized management of severe hypertension is recommended to promote maternal safety.

Sponsoring Organization: Council on Patient Safety in Women's Health Care

Target Audience: Obstetric care providers

Background and Objective

Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy are leading causes of maternal morbidity and mortality, yet treatment varies across U.S. maternity hospitals. In keeping with the mission to develop standard, evidence-based guidance for acute care maternity institutions, the National Partnership on Maternal Safety recently released its safety bundle on management of severe hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.

Key Recommendations

Know the diagnostic criteria for severe hypertension: Systolic blood pressure (BP) ≥160 mm Hg, diastolic BP ≥110 mm Hg, or both, persisting for ≥15 minutes. Delaying treatment to confirm diagnosi…

Reviewing Author

Allison Bryant, MD, MPH

Disclosures

RoyaltiesUpToDate

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesSociety for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (Board of Directors)