The utilization of external cardiohemodynamic patient assessment, applying non-invasive stick-on contact patches to the mother's neck on either side and chest wall on either side, enables the practitioner to have information about the patient's cardiac function and vascular status beyond simply blood pressure and pulse. This information, once collected, should open the practitioner's eyes to better assess the patient's disease status and her response to therapy. We will use this information to compare the effectiveness of the two standard medications used for treatment of maternal high blood pressure.
Pregnant patients with severe acute hypertension due either to superimposed preeclampsia, severe preeclampsia or severe gestational hypertension will be randomized to receive either of two antihypertensive agents (hydralazine or labetalol). Just before drug administration and immediately thereafter impedance cardiography of the patient will be undertaken and the results analyzed relative to the cardiac profile and the drug administered to reduce the severe hypertension.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
30
Wiser Hospital for Women and Infants at the University of Mississippi Medical Center
Jackson, Mississippi, United States
Usefulness of Impedance Cardiography (ICG) in pregnant women with hypertension
ICG test is performed on pregnant women before receiving any antihypertensive medication. Labetalol and Hydralazine, two ot the most commonly used antihypertensives to treat high blood pressure in pregnant women will be used in this study.
Time frame: 36
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