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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2012 Sep 27.
Published in final edited form as: Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2009 Jun;200(6):595–609. doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2009.04.005

TABLE 7.

Effect of magnesium sulfate on maternal outcomes

Outcome No of
trials		 Number of events/total number
 Relative risk
(95% Cl)		 I2
(%)
Magnesium No magnesium
Death 331,33,35 0/1917 1/1950 0.32(0.01–7.92) 0.0
Cardiac or respiratory arrest 331,33,35 0/1917 0/1950 Not estimable NA
Pulmonary edema 135 8/1096 3/1145 2.79(0.74–10.47) NA
Respiratory depression 231,35 41/1631 31/1672 1.31 (0.83–2.07) 0.0
Hypotension 231,33 80/821 52/805 1.51 (1.09–2.09) 3.6
Tachycardia 131 56/535 36/527 1.53(1.03–2.29) NA
Severe postpartum hemorrhage 231,33 28/821 26/805 1.06(0.63–1.79) 0.0
Cesarean section 331,33,35 822/1917 834/1950 1.00(0.93–1.07) 21.6
Clinical and self-assessed
maternal side effects of
the infusion
Flushing 331,33,35 1119/1917 162/1950 7.56(3.39–16.88) 93.8
Nausea or
vomiting		 331,33,35 312/1917 76/1950 4.60(1.54–13.75) 91.5
Sweating 231,35 411/1631 57/1672 6.37(1.96–20.68) 94.6
Problems at
injection site		 231,35 614/1631 68/1672 9.12(7.19–11.57) 0.0
Stopping of
infusion because
of adverse
effects		 231,35 123/1631 44/1672 2.81 (2.01–3.93) 0.0
Any side effect 331,33,35 1356/1917 343/1950 5.05(2.06–12.39) 98.3

Cl, confidence interval; NA, not applicable