ABSTRACT
Patients with preeclampsia and eclampsia as complications of pregnancy can present to the emergency department sometimes days to weeks after delivery, with a varied spectrum of signs and symptoms and many emergent needs. Preeclampsia is an immune-mediated, systemic, vasospastic condition of the endothelium, the innermost cell layer of the vasculature. Because of the severe vasospastic situation, severe ischemia develops, with resultant endothelial damage and eventual necrosis in key organs, resulting in status epilepticus, stroke, shock, end organ failure, and cardiac arrest. Eclampsia involves seizures with preeclampsia that cannot be attributed to any other cause. Emergency interventions focus on preventing maternal injury, ensuring oxygenation, decreasing blood pressure, and preventing seizures.