OBJECTIVE:

To determine whether the administration of a shortened treatment of less than 8 h with magnesium sulfate during the puerperium is effective to prevent eclampsia and to achieve some other advantages.

MATERIAL AND METHODS:

A retrospective, cross-sectional, comparative, retrospective, case series study performed at the Hospital Regional Materno Infantil of Nuevo León, Mexico, from February 2019 to January 2020. Inclusion criteria: patients with singleton pregnancy complicated with preeclampsia with data of severity or chronic hypertension with severe over-added preeclampsia who were administered magnesium sulfate as prophylaxis for eclampsia before birth and subsequently continued its administration in the puerperium. The patients were divided into two groups according to the hours that they received magnesium sulfate during the puerperium: group A: shortened treatment of less than 8 h and group B: with a schedule of more than 8 h. The proportions were compared by using the test for the proportion of patients who received magnesium sulfate during the puerperium. To compare proportions, we used the . A value of p ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS:

379 participants were analyzed: 76 in group A and 303 in group B. No cases of eclampsia were recorded in both groups. Hours to initiate breastfeeding, ambulation, Foley tube stay and intensive care were significantly lower in the shortened treatment group (14.1 vs 26.06; p = .000), (15.1 vs 26.24; p = .000), (14.5 vs 25.3; p = 000), (13.8 vs 23.1; p = .000), respectively. No difference in neonatal complications was observed.

CONCLUSION:

Administration of a shortened course of magnesium sulfate during the puerperium is as effective as a longer course of 8 h for prevention of eclampsia.