Characterization of obstetric patients with multiple organ failure in the intensive care unit of a Havana teaching hospital, 1998 to 2006.

Introduction: Most obstetric patients admitted to intensive care units (ICU) present life-threatening complications of pregnancy, delivery, and postpartum, often leading to multiple organ failure (MOF), considered the main cause of death in ICUs. Although maternal mortality is an important indicator of health status in women and nations, few studies have analyzed MOF in obstetric ICU patients. The Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) scale is a prognostic tool for ranking organ dysfunction in critically ill patients and correlating scores with outcome.