Maternal Critical Illness

Purpose of Review: The purpose of this study was to define maternal critical illness (MCI) and outline its causes, the tools used to identify it, and current treatment recommendations. Recent Findings: Although MCI is uncommon, it comprises >10% of intensive care (ICU) admissions in women aged <50 years. Of critically ill mothers, 1:20 die. Almost half these deaths are preventable. Monitoring should follow convention, yet MCI is often treated outside ICUs. Patient youth and the relative rarity of MCI often lead to underestimation of risk and delays in care. Imaging is underutilized. There is no information regarding mechanical ventilation targets. Data regarding drug safety is derived from non-critically ill pregnant women and from retrospective case-control studies which often overestimate risk. Summary: MCI is accompanied by significant excess mortality. Imaging studies, treatments, or medication should not be withheld from cases of MCI solely due to concerns regarding fetal outcome. There remain important knowledge gaps in both diagnosis and treatment of MCI.