Maternal deaths in an urban perinatal network, 1992-1998

OBJECTIVE: The object of this study was to use an in-depth peer-review process to determine the maternal mortality ratio at a single urban perinatal center and to identify factors associated with fatal outcomes to elucidate opportunities for preventive measures to reduce the maternal mortality ratio. STUDY DESIGN: Between 1992 and 1998 all maternal deaths occurring within our perinatal network were identified. A peer-review committee was established to review all available data for each death to determine the underlying cause of death, whether it was related to pregnancy, and whether the death was potentially preventable. RESULTS: There were 131,500 births and 42 maternal deaths, for a maternal mortality ratio of 31.9 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births. The adjusted pregnancy-related maternal mortality ratio was 22.8 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births, with 37% of those deaths (11/30) deemed potentially preventable and a provider factor cited in >80% of these. Pulmonary embolus and cardiac disease together accounted for 40% of the pregnancy-related deaths. CONCLUSION: Local maternal mortality ratios identified through a peer-review process indicate that the magnitude of the problem is much greater than is recognized through national death certificate data. The high proportion of potentially preventable maternal deaths indicates the need for improvement in both patient and provider education if we are to reduce the maternal mortality ratio to 3.3 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births, the stated national health goal of Healthy People 2000.     

Diagnostic evaluation of intrauterine fetal deaths in Stockholm 1998-99

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the diagnostic methods and to elucidate the etiology of intrauterine fetal death. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A prospective study was conducted on all intrauterine fetal deaths occurring in Stockholm County in 1998-99. During a 24-month period, 188 cases of intrauterine fetal death with gestational ages of > or = 22 weeks were investigated in accordance with structured test protocol. All information from antenatal and delivery records as well as all test results were entered in to an Internet-based database for continuous evaluation. RESULTS: A presumptive explanation to the stillbirth was established in 91% of the cases. The most common factors associated with intrauterine fetal death could be identified as infections (24%), placental insufficiency/intrauterine growth restriction (22%), placental abruption (19%), intercurrent maternal conditions (12%), congenital malformations (10%), and umbilical cord complications (9%). CONCLUSIONS: A relevant test protocol in cases of intrauterine fetal death reduces the number of unexplained cases to a minimum. An Internet-based register on test results of fetal deaths may enable a continuous evaluation of the diagnostic tools and etiologic factors in an ever-changing panorama. The results from the present study can serve as a base for a case-control study in Sweden.     

Contribution of congenital malformation to perinatal mortality in Lagos, Nigeria

Over a 17-month period we prospectively recorded identifiable congenital malformations at delivery in singleton births in our hospital. Despite the prevailing religious and cultural belief we carried out autopsies in 41% of the perinatal deaths that occurred during the study period. Out of a total of 63 (21/1000 singleton births) congenital malformations discovered, 21 (33%) were identified at autopsy only. About 16% of total perinatal deaths were due to congenital malformation. Cardiovascular malformations accounted for about 40% of perinatal deaths from congenital malformations followed by central nervous system malformation (23.3%), gastrointestinal malformations (20%), musculo-skeletal malformations (6.7%); renal malformations (3.3%) and others (6.7%). No relationship between maternal age, parity and congenital malformation was found. The results from this study suggest that with the use of autopsy, teratology may contribute significantly to the prevailing high perinatal mortality in Lagos more than was previously thought.     

Parental,fetal, and environmental factors in perinatal mortality

The parental, fetal, and environmental factors associated with 279 perinatal deaths and 398 controls have been examined. From the data it is quite evident that socioeconomic factors are of primary importance in perinatal mortality.The difference in perinatal mortality between the white and non-white groups disappeared when adjusted for socioeconomic factors.The father's occupation and the mother's education showed significant differences in relation to perinatal mortality even when adjusted for race, age, and parity. The father's occupation and mother's education were considered as indices of the socioeconomic status of the family.The mother's age was found to be a highly significant factor in perinatal mortality even when adjusted for race, age, and parity.The technique used in obtaining the data for the present study did not yield reliable information in regard to the nutritional status of the mother.Birth interval, parity, previous obstetric complications, and previous perinatal mortality did not appear to be significant in relation to perinatal mortality when adjusted for race, age, and parity.No correlation was noted between the level of the maternal hemoglobin and perinatal mortality.Certain complications of pregnancy such as toxemia, premature separation of the placenta, placenta previa, and other antepartum bleeding were associated with extremely high perinatal mortality rates.In this study the type of delivery appeared to have no relationship to perinatal mortality when other variables were considered.     

Planned homebirths in Victoria, 1995-1998

This paper reports and comments on quantitative aspects of 440 planned homebirths attended by registered midwives in Victoria during the three years studied, 1995-1998. The spontaneous labour rate was 96.4%, and 91.6% of women planning a home birth experienced a spontaneous cephalic birth. The overall transfer to hospital rate was 20%, the most common reason for transfer being delayed progress in labour. 64.2% of women experiencing a vaginal birth had no perineal trauma. Postpartum haemorrhage was noted in 5.5% of participants, and 1.1% had a retained placenta. Infants were an older gestation and heavier than those in the state in general, although the Apgar scores were similar. These data support the claim that planned home birth with a qualified midwife remains a demonstrably safe option for women who choose this model.     

Increasing rates of sex-discordant twins no longer correspond to decreasing perinatal mortality rates

OBJECTIVE: To analyze dizygotic twinning rates and outcomes over a 25-year period. METHODS: Birth and fetal death certificates from 1980-2004 in Washington State, USA, were analyzed retrospectively to find factors associated with the increase in sex-discordant twins through time. "Low" and "high" fertility treatment groups were defined according to demographic traits. Perinatal mortality was defined as fetal or neonatal death of one or both twins and Weinberg's rule was used to estimate mortality for monozygotic and dizygotic pairs. RESULTS: Controlling simultaneously for maternal age, race, parity, and education did not eliminate the trend of increasing sex-discordant twins from 1992-2004 (M-H chi2 P=0.001). The "low" fertility group had a non-significant decline in sex-discordant twins (M-H chi2 P=0.24), whereas the "high" fertility group had a significant increase (M-H chi2 P=0.001). Perinatal mortality decreased for monozygtic twin pairs throughout the study period, but decreased until the mid-1990s and then increased slightly through 2004 for the dizygotic twin pairs. CONCLUSION: Advancing maternal age and increasing use of fertility treatments are largely responsible for the increase in dizygotic twins from 1980-2004 and may also be responsible for the stalling of the decline in perinatal mortality rate.     

Audit of perinatal deaths in a tertiary level hospital in Latvia (1995-1999) using the Nordic-Baltic perinatal death classification: evidence of suboptimal care.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to explore applicability of the Nordic-Baltic perinatal death (PND) classification in a single hospital via evaluation of changes of the preventability of PND over the time period in a tertiary level perinatal care center in Latvia. METHOD: All PND cases during the period 1995-1999 at a tertiary referral perinatal care center, the Riga Maternity Hospital (RMH), were analyzed using the common Nordic-Baltic PND classification. RESULTS: The total perinatal mortality rate (PNMR) did not decline at the RMH over the study period. The rate of antenatal and intrapartum deaths at <28 weeks of gestation increased (p < 0.01). Early neonatal deaths at 28-33 weeks of gestation with a low 5-minute Apgar score became less frequent (p < 0.05). There was a trend towards more cases of probably suboptimal care (p < 0.005) and the proportion of preventable PND cases increased from 14.7% in 1995 to 36.4% in 1999 (p = 0.01). CONCLUSION: The perinatal audit performed at the RMH using the Nordic-Baltic PND classification disclosed a requirement for further improvement of perinatal care in the hospital. The classification can be used to evaluate the preventability of perinatal death cases in a single hospital, and its application in other hospitals in Latvia could provide information necessary for the improvement of perinatal care in the country.     

A review of intrapartum fetal deaths, 1982 to 2002

This study identifies cases of unexpected intrapartum fetal deaths over 20 years in a Canadian tertiary hospital. Of 121,659 births, 82 were intrapartum deaths. Eleven fetuses were considered viable and nonanomalous. Six deaths were deemed ideally preventable. Application of electronic fetal heart rate monitoring and rapid operative delivery may reduce the already low rate of intrapartum fetal deaths.     

Correlation of decrease in perinatal mortality and increase in cesarean section rates

During what has proved to be a critical period in the practice of modern obstetrics, 1965 to 1980, when cesarean birth rates increased dramatically in centers across the United States from less than 5 to more than 15%, the number of infants born in the National Maternity Hospital, Dublin, was 108,987. Although the incidence of cesarean section remained virtually unchanged at 4.2, 4.2, 4.2, and 4.8% in 1965, 1970, 1975, and 1980, respectively, perinatal mortality continued to fall from 42.1 to 36.5, 24.0, and 16.8 per 1000 infants born at 500 g or more. These results do not support the contention that the expansion in cesarean birth rates has contributed significantly to reduced perinatal mortality in recent years. Consideration of indications shows that the threefold difference in cesarean birth rate which now exists between Dublin and similar centers across the United States can be accounted for almost entirely by a different approach to management of labor in nulliparous women, compounded by rigid adherence to precept "once a section, always a section.     

Review of causes of perinatal mortality in a regional perinatal center, 1980 to 1984

During 1980 to 1984, 279 deaths occurred among 15,306 births in a regional perinatal unit. Survival to discharge corrected for lethal malformations was 81% or better in infants with a birth weight above 749 gm. Congenital malformations (23.2%), infections (21.3%), asphyxia (19.8%), and hyaline membrane disease (11%) caused most perinatal deaths.