Obstetric admissions in our study were largely due to perioperative cardiac arrest occurring as a consequence of peripartum haemorrhage, eclampsia and/or sepsis. Following the introduction of protocolised care for peripartum emergencies and the establishment of the obstetric high dependency unit (patient monitors and more intense nursing and protocols without mechanical ventilation) at the Mulago hospital, the number of obstetric critically ill patients admitted to the study ICU dropped substantially.