When should delivery be considered in a patient with severe preeclampsia?

Delivery should be considered in a patient with severe preeclampsia if the patient is 37 weeks or further along or if the condition deteriorates. This is because severe preeclampsia poses significant risks to both the mother and the fetus. The management guidelines suggest that once a pregnancy reaches 37 weeks, the risks associated with continuing the pregnancy, such as the potential for maternal complications like stroke or organ failure, outweigh the benefits.

If the condition of the patient worsens at any gestational age—regardless of whether they are past 37 weeks—delivery becomes essential to protect the health of both the mother and the baby. The main goal is to prevent complications that could arise from severe hypertension and associated symptoms, making timely delivery crucial.

In contrast, delivering at 34 weeks or considering monitoring for an additional 2 weeks may delay necessary intervention when the health of the mother and fetus is at stake, and delivering before 37 weeks generally reflects a more cautious approach unless there are other strong indications for early delivery.