medical decision support 1 medical decision support 2
Subscribe Sign In

Obstetric Early Warning Score

Purpose: To evaluate an obstetrical patient in the hospital using the early warning score of Carle et al.

Description

Carle et al developed an early warning score (EWS) for obstetrical patients. This takes into account the changes that pregnancy has on the physiologic response to illness. The authors are from Peterborough City Hospital, University Hospital of South Manchester and Stepping Hill Hospital in England.


 

Parameters (collected during the first 24 hours after a critical care admission):

(1) systolic blood pressure in mm Hg

(2) diastolic blood pressure in mm Hg

(3) respiratory rate in breaths per minute

(4) heart rate in beats per minute

(5) FIO2 need to keep oxygen saturation >= 96%

(6) body temperature in °C

(7) level of consciousness

 

Parameter

Finding

Points

systolic blood pressure

>= 160

3

 

150 to 159

2

 

140 to 149

1

 

90 to 139

0

 

80 to 89

2

 

< 80

3

diastolic blood pressure

>= 110

3

 

100 to 109

2

 

90 to 99

1

 

< 90

0

respiratory rate

>= 30

3

 

25 to 29

2

 

18 to 24

1

 

10 to 17

0

 

< 10

3

heart rate

>= 150

3

 

111 to 149

2

 

60 to 110

0

 

< 60

3

FIO2

room air (0.21 to 0.23)

0

 

0.24 to 0.39

1

 

>= 0.40

3

temperature

>= 39

3

 

38 to 38.9

1

 

35.1 to 37.9

0

 

34 to 35

1

 

< 34

3

consciousness

alert (GCS = 15)

0

 

not alert (GCS < 15)

3

 

total score =

= SUM(points for all parameters)

 

Interpretation:

• minimum score: 0

• maximum score: 21

• The higher the score the greater the risk.

 

Score

Risk Group

Monitoring

0

very low

routine

1 to 3

low

minimum q4h; alert nurse in charge

4 or 5, or 1 parameter scores 3

medium

minimum q1h; alert medical team

>= 6

high

continuous monitoring; emergency response team

 


To read more or access our algorithms and calculators, please log in or register.

Objective

ICD-10