Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome : observation in 21 patients

الملخص EN

Objectives : To identify patients with Ovarian Hyp^timulation Syndrome (OHSS) and highlight their management.

Design : A retrospeetive study of 21 patients with OHSS over a period of seven years was undertaken.

Setting : Department of Obstetries and Gynaecology, King Fahad Hospital 0،* the King Faisal University, Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia.

Subjects : Twenty one symptomatic patients admitted to the hospital and diagnosed to have OHSS following ovulation induction treatment in the surrounding clinics and hospitals of the region.

Results : OHSS developed in 21 patients during the first to the eighth treatment cycle.

The symptoms and signs of hyperstimulation appeared in most patients within 3-7 days of injection of human chorionic gonadotropin.

Four patients in the series had associated pregnancy (one triplets).

The treatment given was mainly conservative.

?aracentesis W'as performed in six patients.

Four patients required management of their condition in the intensive care unit.

Two patients needed chest drainage for pleural effusions Surgical intervention for acute abdomen was carried out in two patients.

No patient died in the series.

Conclusion : Since OHSS is iatrogenic in nature, its prevention or reduction of severity may be achieved by restricting the use of drugs for induction of ovulation to only specialists who can identify the w omen at risk of developing OHSS, regulate the dose/response of the patient and have facilities and capabilities to treat complications if and w hen they arise.

Indiscriminate use of ovulation induction drugs by general practitioners should be abandoned.