The complication of eclampsia include the following, except:

Appeared in: IGNOU PB Bsc Entrance-2022

Explanation

Hypothermia (low body temperature) is not a recognized complication of eclampsia.
The intense muscular contractions during an eclamptic seizure generate significant heat, making hyperthermia (high body temperature or fever) a more likely finding.
Eclampsia represents a state of extreme physiological stress, which tends to increase metabolic rate and body temperature, not decrease it.

Option A: Cerebral hemorrhage is a well-documented and one of the most severe complications of eclampsia, often leading to maternal death.
Option C: Post-eclamptic psychosis is a recognized, though rare, neurological complication that can occur in the postpartum period after a woman has experienced eclamptic seizures.
Option D: Pulmonary edema (fluid in the lungs) and renal failure are common and life-threatening complications resulting from the widespread vascular endothelial damage, severe vasospasm, and fluid shifts that characterize eclampsia.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Complications of Eclampsia as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurses must recognize the wide range of potential complications of eclampsia to provide comprehensive monitoring and timely interventions.
Key nursing assessments include monitoring for neurological changes (headache, visual disturbances, level of consciousness), respiratory distress (indicating pulmonary edema), and decreased urine output (indicating renal failure).
Seizure precautions, continuous magnesium sulfate infusion management, and frequent vital sign monitoring are critical components of nursing care for a patient with severe pre-eclampsia or eclampsia.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the keyword 'except' in the question stem. This means you are looking for the option that is NOT a complication of eclampsia.
Recall the core pathophysiology of eclampsia: it is a severe hypertensive and convulsive disorder of pregnancy.
Evaluate each option based on this pathophysiology.
Option A (Cerebral hemorrhage): Severe hypertension can easily lead to ruptured blood vessels in the brain. This is a plausible complication.
Option B (Hypothermia): Convulsions involve intense, rapid muscle contractions, which generate heat. This makes low body temperature (hypothermia) unlikely; high temperature (hyperthermia) is more probable.
Option C (Psychosis): A severe, life-threatening event like eclampsia can trigger extreme psychological and neurological responses, including psychosis.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Complications of Eclampsia
Stem keywords: complication, eclampsia
Lead-in keywords: except
Negative lead-in flag: The question uses the word 'except', asking to identify the option that is NOT a complication of eclampsia.

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E6 Obstetrics Williams p. 30-50

Practise the full IGNOU PB Bsc Entrance-2022

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.