Maternal Morbidity Resources

OBJECTIVE: Amniotic fluid embolism (AFE) is a condition occurring during delivery that can lead to severe maternal morbidity and mortality. Given the rarity of its occurrence, current estimates and predictors of the incidence and outcomes are often difficult to obtain.
STUDY DESIGN: We conducted a population-based cohort study on 3 million birth records in the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project-Nationwide Inpatient Sample from 1999 to 2003 to estimate the incidence and case fatality of AFEs. Logistic regression was used to calculate the odds ratio (OR) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of demographic and obstetrical determinants of AFEs and fatal AFEs.
RESULTS: The overall incidence of AFE was 7.7 per 100,000 births (95% CI 6.7 to 8.7), with a case fatality rate of 21.6% (95% CI 15.5 to 27.6%). AFE was associated with maternal age greater than 35 (OR 2.2, 95% CI 1.5 to 2.1), placenta previa (OR 30.4, 95% CI 15.4 to 60.1), and cesarean delivery (OR 5.7, 95% CI 3.7 to 8.7). Although AFEs were not significantly associated with induction of labor (OR 1.5, 95% CI 0.9 to 2.3), they were associated with preeclampsia, abruptio placentae, and the use of forceps. Among women with an AFE, common demographic or obstetrical determinants were not predictive of maternal mortality.
CONCLUSION: AFE is a rare but serious condition that is associated with advanced maternal age, placental pathologies, and cesarean deliveries. Further research on the treatment of this condition is necessary.

OBJECTIVE: Amniotic fluid embolism (AFE) is a condition occurring during delivery that can lead to severe maternal morbidity and mortality. Given the rarity of its occurrence, current estimates and predictors of the incidence and outcomes are often difficult to obtain.
STUDY DESIGN: We conducted a population-based cohort study on 3 million birth records in the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project-Nationwide Inpatient Sample from 1999 to 2003 to estimate the incidence and case fatality of AFEs. Logistic regression was used to calculate the odds ratio (OR) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of demographic and obstetrical determinants of AFEs and fatal AFEs.
RESULTS: The overall incidence of AFE was 7.7 per 100,000 births (95% CI 6.7 to 8.7), with a case fatality rate of 21.6% (95% CI 15.5 to 27.6%). AFE was associated with maternal age greater than 35 (OR 2.2, 95% CI 1.5 to 2.1), placenta previa (OR 30.4, 95% CI 15.4 to 60.1), and cesarean delivery (OR 5.7, 95% CI 3.7 to 8.7). Although AFEs were not significantly associated with induction of labor (OR 1.5, 95% CI 0.9 to 2.3), they were associated with preeclampsia, abruptio placentae, and the use of forceps. Among women with an AFE, common demographic or obstetrical determinants were not predictive of maternal mortality.
CONCLUSION: AFE is a rare but serious condition that is associated with advanced maternal age, placental pathologies, and cesarean deliveries. Further research on the treatment of this condition is necessary.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the maternal morbidity associated with cesarean deliveries performed at term without labor compared with morbidity associated with induction of labor at term.
METHODS: A 15-year population-based cohort study (1988-2002) using the Nova Scotia Atlee Perinatal Database compared maternal outcomes in nulliparous women delivering by cesarean delivery without labor and nulliparous women at term undergoing induction of labor for planned vaginal delivery with singleton, cephalic presentation.
RESULTS: A total of 5,779 pregnancies satisfied inclusion and exclusion criteria, 879 of which were cesarean deliveries without labor. There were no maternal deaths. There was no difference in wound infection, puerperal febrile morbidity, blood transfusion or intraoperative trauma. After controlling for potential confounders, women undergoing cesarean delivery without labor were less likely to have complications of early postpartum hemorrhage (relative risk 0.61, 95% confidence interval 0.42-0.88, number needed to treat 32) and composite maternal morbidity (relative risk 0.71, 95% confidence interval 0.52-0.95, number needed to treat 34) compared with women undergoing induction of labor. Subgroup analyses of maternal outcomes after induction of labor in women by method of delivery were also performed and demonstrated additional risks of traumatic morbidity after induction of labor. The highest morbidity was found in the assisted vaginal delivery and cesarean delivery in labor groups.
CONCLUSION: Early postpartum hemorrhage and composite maternal morbidity were decreased in cesarean delivery without labor compared with induction of labor. Hemorrhagic and traumatic morbidities with labor induction are increased after assisted vaginal delivery and cesarean delivery in labor compared with cesarean delivery without labor.

Using a provincial perinatal database for 15 years, 1988-2002. Cases were identified with one or more of the following markers of severe maternal morbidity: blood transfusion > or = 5 units, emergency hysterectomy, uterine rupture, eclampsia, intensive care (ICU) admission. There were 159,896 mothers delivered of whom 313 (2.0/1000) had 385 markers of severe morbidity (257 had one, 42 had two, 12 had three, and two had four). The following rates of morbidity were recorded: blood transfusion > or = 5 units 119 (0.74/1000); emergency hysterectomy 88 (0.55/1000); uterine rupture 49 (0.31/1000); eclampsia 46 (0.28/1000); ICU 83 (0.52/1000). There was a statistically significant association between multiparity > or = 1, and emergency hysterectomy and uterine rupture; between age > or = 35 years, and emergency hysterectomy, uterine rupture and ICU; and between caesarean delivery and blood transfusion > or = 5 units, emergency hysterectomy, uterine rupture, eclampsia and ICU. The main contributing obstetric complications were haemorrhage (64.7%) and complications of hypertensive disorders (16.8%).

OBJECTIVE: To determine the level of near-miss maternal mortality and morbidity due to severe obstetrical complications or maternal disease in a tertiary maternity hospital.
DESIGN: Retrospective review.
SETTING: A free-standing maternity hospital delivering 5500 infants per year.
METHODS: The information coded in the perinatal database concerning women who had required transfer for critical care to a general hospital was reviewed for the 14 year period 1980 to 1993. The complications necessitating transfer and the specialised consultants and services required were noted.
RESULTS: Over 14 years there were 76,119 women delivered with two maternal deaths (2.6/100,000). Fifty-five women required transfer for critical care (0.7/1000). The main reasons for transfer were hypertensive disease (25%), haemorrhage (22%) and sepsis (15%). Transfer to an intensive care unit was required by 80%, and the remainder were transferred to specialised medical or surgical units. Twenty different specialist groups were consulted. The 55 patients spent 280 days in critical care and 464 days hospital after-care (mean 13 days, range 3-92).
CONCLUSION: A review of near-miss maternal mortality helps delineate the continuing threats to maternal health and the type of support services most commonly required.

OBJECTIVE: To quantify the incidence of severe maternal morbidity in Scotland and determine the feasibility of doing so.
DESIGN: Prospective observational study.
SETTING: All 22 consultant led maternity units in Scotland, between 1 October 2001 and 30 September 2002.
POPULATION: Women during pregnancy and the puerperium.
METHODS: Definitions for 13 categories of severe maternal morbidity were developed from published work. Recruitment of maternity units, and training of staff, took place at a national meeting. Each month, every unit reported cases meeting the agreed definitions, the category of incident and date. Data were collated centrally and analysed to determine the frequency of incidents. The number of maternal deaths occurring in Scotland over the same period was obtained from the Confidential Enquiry into Maternal Deaths.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Number and rate of defined events being reported. A subjective view of the feasibility of collecting national data routinely.
RESULTS: Severe morbidity was reported in 196 women, out of 51,165 deliveries in Scotland (rate 3.8 per 1000 deliveries). Thirty percent of cases fell into more than one defined category. Major obstetric haemorrhage accounted for 50% of events. Only a third of identified patients were admitted to intensive care units. Four relevant maternal deaths occurred.
CONCLUSIONS: Categories of severe maternal morbidity can be defined and may provide a useful measure of the quality of maternity services, particularly in developed countries where maternal mortality is very rare. It appears feasible to set up a national reporting system for maternal morbidity, as well as mortality.

OBJECTIVE: To identify and estimate prevalence rates of maternal morbidities by pregnancy outcome and selected covariates during the antepartum, intrapartum, and postpartum periods in a defined population of pregnant women.
METHODS: We used electronic data systems of a large, vertically integrated, group-model health maintenance organization (HMO) to develop an algorithm that searched International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification, codes for 38 predetermined groups of pregnancy-related complications among women enrollees of this HMO between January 1, 1998, and December 31, 2001.
RESULTS: We identified 24,481 pregnancies among 21,011 women. Although prevalence and type of morbidity varied by pregnancy outcome, overall, 50% of women had at least one complication. The most common complications were anemia (9.3%), urinary tract infections (9.0%), mental health conditions (9.0%), hypertensive disorders (8.5%), and pelvic and perineal trauma (7.0%).
CONCLUSION: A range of mild-to-severe pregnancy complications were identified using linked inpatient and outpatient databases. The most common complications we found usually do not require hospitalization so would be missed in studies that use only hospitalization data. Our data allowed examination of a broad scope of conditions and severity. These findings increase our understanding of the extent of maternal morbidity.
LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II.

Management of massive, life-threatening primary postpartum hemorrhage in the labor and delivery service is a challenge for the clinical team and hospital transfusion service. Because severe postpartum obstetrical hemorrhage is uncommon, its occurrence can result in emergent but variable and nonstandard requests for blood products. The implementation of a standardized massive transfusion protocol for the labor and delivery department at our institution after a maternal death caused by amniotic fluid embolism is described. This guideline was modeled on a existing protocol used by the trauma service mandating emergency release of 6 units of group O D- red cells (RBCs), 4 units of fresh frozen or liquid plasma, and 1 apheresis unit of platelets (PLTs). The 6:4:1 fixed ratio of uncrossmatched RBCs, plasma, and PLTs allows the transfusion service to quickly provide blood products during the acute phase of resuscitation and allows the clinical team to anticipate and prevent dilutional coagulopathy. The successful management of three cases of massive primary postpartum hemorrhage after the implementation of our new massive transfusion protocol in the maternal and fetal medicine service is described.

OBJECTIVE: This investigation aimed to identify pregnancy complications and risk factors for women who experienced severe maternal morbidity during the delivery hospitalization and to estimate severe maternal morbidity rates. STUDY DESIGN: We used the National Hospital Discharge Survey for 1991-2003 to identify delivery hospitalizations with maternal diagnoses and procedures that indicated a potentially life-threatening diagnosis or life-saving procedure. RESULTS: For 1991-2003, the severe maternal morbidity rate in the United States was 5.1 per 1000 deliveries. Most women who were classified as having severe morbidity had an ICD-9-CM code for transfusion, hysterectomy, or eclampsia. Severe morbidity was more common at the extremes of reproductive age and for black women, compared with white women. CONCLUSION: Severe maternal morbidity is 50 times more common than maternal death. Understanding these experiences of these women potentially could modify the delivery of care in healthcare institutions and influence maternal health policy at the state and national level.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This review will summarize the latest publications on the causes, prevention and treatment of maternal collapse during pregnancy and the postpartum period. It will also explore some future trends particularly in the area of education and team working.
RECENT FINDINGS: Active management of the third stage of labour has been shown to decrease the incidence of postpartum haemorrhage. Inadequate or prolonged resuscitation following major postpartum haemorrhage can lead to myocardial damage. Guidelines that are followed and the use of drills and simulators may increase effective team working and lead to earlier recognition and treatment of maternal collapse. Some cases of amniotic fluid embolism resemble anaphylaxis and should be treated as such. Important evidence-based guidelines on the management of antithrombolytic prophylaxis and the management of pulmonary embolism have recently been published, which should help clinicians clarify their medical care plans. New resuscitation guidelines in the UK will probably mean that all healthcare workers (including obstetricians and midwives) will need appropriate training every year.
SUMMARY: Understanding the causes of maternal collapse, its early recognition and prompt resuscitation should decrease both maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. There is increasing evidence that effective preventative measures and improved multidisciplinary team working may have an important impact on maternal and fetal well-being.

OBJECTIVES: This study sought to determine the prevalence of maternal morbidity during labor and delivery in the United States.
METHODS: Analyses focused on National Hospital Discharge Survey data available for women giving birth between 1993 and 1997.
RESULTS: The prevalence of specific types of maternal morbidity was low, but the burden of overall morbidity was high. Forty-three percent of women experienced some type of morbidity during their delivery hospitalization. Thirty-one percent (1.2 million women) had at least 1 obstetric complication or at least 1 preexisting medical condition.
CONCLUSIONS: Maternal morbidity during delivery is frequent and often preventable. Reducing maternal morbidity is a national health objective, and its monitoring is key to improving maternal health.

BACKGROUND: All cases of obstetric hysterectomies that were performed in our hospital during a seven-year study period were reviewed in order to evaluate the incidence, indications, risk factors, and complications associated with emergency obstetric hysterectomy.
METHODS: Medical records of 45 patients who had undergone emergency hysterectomy were scrutinized and evaluated retrospectively. Maternal age, parity, gestational age, indication for hysterectomy, the type of operation performed, estimated blood loss, amount of blood transfused, complications, and hospitalization period were noted and evaluated. The main outcome measures were the factors associated with obstetric hysterectomy as well as the indications for the procedure.
RESULTS: During the study period there were 32,338 deliveries and 9,601 of them (29.7%) were by cesarean section. In this period, 45 emergency hysterectomies were performed, with an incidence of 1 in 2,526 vaginal deliveries and 1 in 267 cesarean sections. All of them were due to massive postpartum hemorrhage. The most common underlying pathologies was placenta accreta (51.1%) and placenta previa (26.7%). There was no maternal mortality.
CONCLUSIONS: Obstetric hysterectomy is a necessary life-saving procedure. Abnormal placentation is the leading cause of emergency hysterectomy when obstetric practice is characterized by a high cesarean section rate. Therefore, every attempt should be made to reduce the cesarean section rate by performing this procedure only for valid clinical indications

OBJECTIVE: To compare the outcomes and costs associated with primary cesarean births with no labor (planned cesareans) to vaginal and cesarean births with labor (planned vaginal).
METHODS: Analysis was based on a Massachusetts data system linking 470,857 birth certificates, fetal death records, and birth-related hospital discharge records from 1998 and 2003. We examined a subset of 244,088 mothers with no prior cesarean and no documented prenatal risk. We then divided mothers into two groups: those with no labor and a primary cesarean (planned primary cesarean deliveries-3,334 women) and those with labor and either a vaginal birth or a cesarean delivery (planned vaginal-240,754 women). We compared maternal rehospitalization rates and analyzed costs and length of stay.
RESULTS: Rehospitalizations in the first 30 days after giving birth were more likely in planned cesarean (19.2 in 1,000) when compared with planned vaginal births (7.5 in 1,000). After controlling for age, parity, and race or ethnicity, mothers with a planned primary cesarean were 2.3 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.74-2.9) times more likely to require a rehospitalization in the first 30 days postpartum. The leading causes of rehospitalization after a planned cesarean were wound complications (6.6 in 1,000) (P<.001) and infection (3.3 in 1,000). The average initial hospital cost of a planned primary cesarean of US dollars 4,372 (95% C.I. US dollars 4,293-4,451) was 76% higher than the average for planned vaginal births of US dollars 2,487 (95% C.I. US dollars 2,481-2,493), and length of stay was 77% longer (4.3 days to 2.4 days).
CONCLUSION: Clinicians should be aware of the increased risk for maternal rehospitalization after cesarean deliveries to low-risk mothers when counseling women about their choices.
LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the predictive ability of three scoring systems, acute physiology and chronic health evaluation (APACHE II), simplified acute physiology score (SAPS II), and mortality probability models (MPM II) in critically ill obstetric patients compared to a control group of non-obstetric female patients of similar age group (range, 17 to 41 years).
DESIGN: A retrospective medical chart review of obstetric and nonobstetric female patients between 17 and 41 years of age.
SETTING: Two university hospitals.
PATIENTS: Ninety-three obstetric patients and 96 nonobstetric female patients were identified from 12,740 consecutive ICU admissions.
RESULTS: The actual mortality of the obstetric and the nonobstetric group was 10.8% (95% confidence interval [CI], 5.3 to 19.0%) and 12.5% (95% CI, 6.6 to 21.0%), respectively. The observed mortality was not statistically different from the mortality predicted by APACHE II, SAPS II, and MPM II (14.7%, 7.8%, and 9.1% for the obstetric group and 10.9%, 9.0%, and 9.9% for the nonobstetric group). Predictive accuracy was assessed by the c-index, which is equivalent to the area under the receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve. There were no significant differences in the c-index for APACHE II, SAPS II, and MPM II within or between the obstetric group ([mean +/- SE], 0.93 +/- 0.02, 0.90 +/- 0.04, and 0.91 +/- 0.04, respectively) and the nonobstetric group (0.97 +/- 0.02, 0.95 +/- 0.03, and 0.96 +/- 0.02, respectively).
CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that APACHE II, SAPS II, and MPM II assess the ICU outcome of critically ill obstetric patients as accurately as nonobstetric critically ill female patients of similar age group.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the incidence, risk factors, indications, outcomes, and complications of emergency hysterectomy performed after cesarean deliveries (cesarean hysterectomy) and vaginal deliveries (postpartum hysterectomy).
STUDY DESIGN: We conducted a retrospective cohort study from 1990 to 2002 of patients who had peripartum hysterectomies at a single tertiary hospital. Comparisons were made between cesarean and postpartum hysterectomies.
RESULTS: There were 55 cases of emergency peripartum hysterectomy (38 cesarean hysterectomies, and 17 postpartum hysterectomies), for a rate of 0.8 per 1000 deliveries. Overall, the most common indication for hysterectomy was uterine atony (56.4%), followed by placenta accreta (20.0%). Average estimated blood loss was 3325.6+/-1839.2 mL, average operating time was 157.1+/-75.4 minutes, average time from delivery to completing the hysterectomy was 333.8+/-275.7 minutes, and the average length of hospitalization was 11.0+/-7.9 days. The cesarean delivery rate at Grady Memorial Hospital during the study period was 14.2%. There were no statistically significant differences between variables examined when comparisons were made by cesarean vs postpartum hysterectomy.
CONCLUSION: Uterine atony is the leading indication for emergency hysterectomy performed following cesarean and vaginal deliveries.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to measure the reliability of a model that defines preventability in maternal morbidity and death.
STUDY DESIGN: One hundred cases of serious morbidity and death among peripartum women were reviewed by 2 independent groups of medical experts to identify potentially preventable provider or system events that may have led to the progression of illness.
RESULTS: Seventy-seven percent of the cases had concordant findings in both groups regarding the identification of any preventable events. Interrater agreement, which was measured by Cohen's Kappa, was 0.49, which suggests moderate to good reliability. Cases with multiple comorbidities, poor documentation, or preventable patient factors tended to have higher levels of disagreement.
CONCLUSION: There was high agreement between the 2 groups regarding the identification of preventable events that impact maternal morbidity and death. The reliability of this model for the assessment of preventability is an important step for improvement in obstetric and medical care.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to develop a scoring system for identifying women with near-miss maternal morbidity, and differentiating these women from those with severe but not life-threatening conditions.
STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: The study was conducted at the University of Illinois Medical Center at Chicago (UIMC), which is a tertiary care hospital with approximately 2,220 births per year. UIMC is in a major urban area serving a predominantly African-American and Latina population. This article focuses on five clinical factors: organ failure (>/=1 system), extended intubation (>12 hr), ICU admission, surgical intervention, and transfusion (>3 units), grouped into several scoring system alternatives. The total score on each scoring system was calculated as the weighted sum of the clinical factors present for each woman.
RESULTS: The five-factor scoring system had the highest specificity (93.9%), but the four-factor scoring system, which eliminated organ system failure for simplification of data collection, still had a specificity of 78.1%.
CONCLUSION: Near-miss morbidities identified using the scoring systems presented can be incorporated into clinical case review and epidemiologic studies to enhance the monitoring of obstetric care and to improve estimates of the incidence of life-threatening complications in pregnancy.

Maternal mortality is the major indicator used to monitor maternal health in the United States. For every woman who dies, however, many suffer serious life-threatening complications of pregnancy. Yet relatively little attention has been given to identifying a general category of morbidities that could be called near misses. Characterizing near-miss morbidity is valuable for monitoring the quality of hospital-based obstetric care and for assessing the incidence of life-threatening complications. Cases of near-miss morbidity also provide an appropriate comparison group both for dinical case review and for epidemiologic analysis. This paper presents an initial framework and a process for the definition and identification of near-miss morbidity that minimizes loss of information yet has practical utility. A clinical review team classified 22 of 186 women as near misses and 164 as other severe morbidity. A quantitative score classified 28 women as near misses and 156 as other severe morbidity. Precise classification of near-miss morbidity is the first step in analyzing factors that may differentiate survival from death on the continuum from morbidity to mortality. Ultimately, a methodology for the identification and analysis of near-miss morbidity will allow for integrated morbidity and mortality reviews that can then be institutionalized. The results will serve as important models for other researchers, state health agencies, and regionalized perinatal systems that are engaged in morbidity and mortality surveillance.

OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study was to examine whether sociodemographic, clinical, and other service-related factors, as well as preventability issues affect a woman's progression along the continuum of morbidity and mortality.
STUDY DESIGN: This was a case-control study of pregnancy-related deaths, women with near-miss morbidity, and those with other severe, but not life threatening, morbidity. Factors associated with maternal outcome were examined.
RESULTS: Provider factors (related to preventability) and clinical diagnosis were significantly associated with progression along the continuum after controlling for sociodemographic characteristics (P < .01 for both associations).
CONCLUSION: In order to improve mortality rates, we must understand maternal morbidity and how it may lead to death. This study shows that important initiatives include addressing preventability, in particular, provider factors, which may play a role in moving women along the continuum of morbidity and mortality.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the rate of peripartum hysterectomy over the last 8 years in Calgary, the primary indication for peripartum hysterectomy (defined as any hysterectomy performed within 24 hours of a delivery), and whether there was an increase in the rate of peripartum hysterectomy during that time.
METHOD: Detailed chart review of all cases of peripartum hysterectomy, 1999-2006, including previous obstetric history, details of the index pregnancy, indications for peripartum hysterectomy, outcome of the hysterectomy, and infant morbidity.
RESULTS: The overall rate of peripartum hysterectomy was 87 of 108,154 or 0.8 per 1,000 deliveries. The primary indications for hysterectomy were uterine atony (32 of 87, 37%) and suspected placenta accreta (29 of 87, 33%). After hysterectomy, 46 (53%) women were admitted to the intensive care unit. Women were discharged home after a mean 6-day length of stay. The rate of peripartum hysterectomy did not appear to increase over time.
CONCLUSION: Our population-based study found that abnormal placentation is the main indication for peripartum hysterectomy. The most important step in prevention of major postpartum hemorrhage is recognizing and assessing women's risk, although even perfect management of hemorrhage cannot always prevent surgery.
LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.

OBJECTIVE: To identify risk factors for life-threatening maternal outcomes.
STUDY DESIGN: Hospital charts were reviewed for cases of maternal mortality or near-miss and for controls overmatched 1:3. Significant risk factors were identified through simple and best subsets multiple logistic regression.
RESULT: Eight cases of mortality and 69 near-miss cases were found. Significant risk factors with their odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals are: age 35 to 39 years (2.3, 1.2 to 4.4) and >39 years (5.1, 1.8 to 14.4); African-American race (7.4, 2.5 to 22.0) and Hispanic ethnicity (4.2, 1.3 to 13.2); chronic medical condition (2.7, 1.5 to 4.8); obesity (3.0, 1.7 to 5.3); prior cesarean (5.2, 2.8 to 9.8) and gravidity (1.2, 1.1 to 1.5 per pregnancy). In multivariable logistic regression, race remained significant while controlling for other significant factors and markers of socioeconomic status.
CONCLUSION: Some risk factors can be modified through medical care, education or social support systems. Racial disparity in outcome is confirmed and is unexplained by traditional risk factors.

OBJECTIVES: To identify pregnant and postpartum patients admitted to intensive care units (ICUs), the cause for their admission, and the proportion that might be appropriately managed in a high-dependency environment (HDU) by using an existing database. To estimate the goodness-of-fit for the Simplified Acute Physiology Score II, the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II, and the APACHE III scoring systems in the obstetrical population.
DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of demographic, diagnostic, treatment, and severity of illness data.
SETTING: Fourteen ICUs in Southern England.
PATIENTS: Pregnant or postpartum (<42 days) admissions between January 1, 1994, and December 31, 1996.
INTERVENTIONS: None.
MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: We identified 210 patients, constituting 1.84% (210 of 11,385) of all ICU admissions and 0.17% (210 of 122,850) of all deliveries. Most admissions followed postpartum complications (hypertensive disease of pregnancy [39.5%] and major hemorrhage [33.3%]). Seven women were transferred to specialist ICUs. There was considerable variation between ICUs with respect to the number and type of interventions required by patients. Some 35.7% of patients stayed in ICU for <2 days and received no specific ICU interventions; these patients might have been safely managed in an HDU. There were seven maternal deaths (3.3%); fetal mortality rate was 20%. The area under the receiver operator characteristic curve and the standardized mortality ratio were 0.92 (confidence interval [CI], 0.85-0.99) and 0.43 for the Simplified Acute Physiology Score II, 0.94 (CI, 0.86-1.0) and 0.24 for APACHE II, and 0.98 (CI, 0.96-1.0) and 0.43 for APACHE III, respectively.
CONCLUSIONS: Existing databases can both identify critically ill obstetrical patients and provide important information about them. Obstetrical ICU admissions often require minimal intervention and are associated with low mortality rates. Many might be more appropriately managed in an HDU. The commonly used severity of illness scoring systems are good discriminators of outcome from intensive care admission in this group but may overestimate mortality rates. Severity of illness scoring systems may require modification in obstetrical patients to adjust for the normal physiologic responses to pregnancy.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the frequency of and risk factors for serious morbidity resulting in a prolonged hospital stay or readmission among women enrolled in Tennessee's Medicaid program who delivered live or dead infants in 1991.
METHODS: This retrospective cohort study included 33,251 women of white or black ethnicity. Main outcome measures included childbirth-related medical conditions serious enough to result in death, prolonged delivery hospitalization, or readmission within 60 days of delivery.
RESULTS: Among 25,810 women with vaginal (78%) and 7441 (22%) women with cesarean deliveries, 2.6% and 8.9%, respectively, had at least one childbirth-related medical condition requiring prolonged delivery hospitalization or readmission, including infection (1.8% and 7.9%), hypertension-related complications (0.7% and 2.0%), or hemorrhage (0.5% and 2.4%). After controlling for other risk factors, maternal age over 32 years was independently associated with increased rate of serious morbidity among women who had vaginal (relative risk [RR] 1.9, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.4, 2.7) or cesarean deliveries (RR 1.6, 95% CI 1.1, 2.2). Black women had approximately twice the rate of maternal morbidity with vaginal (RR 1.9, 95% CI 1.5, 2.4) or cesarean deliveries (RR 2.3, 95% CI 1.9, 2.9). Primiparous women who had vaginal or cesarean deliveries had a 60% (RR 1.6, 95% CI 1.3, 2.0) and 70% (RR 1.7, 95% CI 1.4, 2.0), respectively, greater risk of serious maternal morbidity than women with 1-3 prior births.
CONCLUSION: Predictors of serious maternal morbidity included age over 32 years, black ethnicity, and primiparity.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to describe the characteristics and outcomes of obstetric patients who require mechanical ventilation. STUDY DESIGN: A review was conducted of obstetric patients who required mechanical ventilation and who received care at our institutions between 1990 and 1998. Data that were collected included maternal demographics, medical condition that necessitated ventilation, delivery status, duration of ventilation, onset of parturition while receiving ventilation, mode of delivery, and maternal and early neonatal morbidity or death. RESULTS: Fifty-one women were identified; 43 women(84%) received care in the labor and delivery setting. The most common admission diagnoses were preeclampsia/eclampsia (44%), labor/preterm labor (14%), and pneumonia (12%). Forty-three women (86%) were undelivered on admission (mean gestational age, 31.6 weeks). Delivery occurred in 37 women (86%) during their admission; 24 women (65%) underwent cesarean delivery. Eleven women began labor while receiving ventilation; 6 were delivered vaginally. The maternal mortality rate was 14% (7/51 women), and the perinatal mortality rate was 11% (4/37 fetuses). CONCLUSION: A large number of obstetric patients who receive mechanical ventilation will require delivery because of their condition. Centers that care for such women should form a treatment strategy to coordinate obstetric and medical care for this unique population

Obstetric patients are a small but important group of patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). Their problems are unique and need specialized attention. Decision making may be confounded by physiologic changes in pregnancy. In developed countries with good antenatal care, comparatively fewer obstetric patients are admitted to ICUs, but the maternal mortality rate remains high in the developing countries. Medical disorders and organ dysfunction caused by critical illness of pregnancy differ from region to region. With improvement in antenatal care, the number of ICU admissions for obstetric disorders would decline in developing countries; however, this number may increase gradually in developed countries because of increasing maternal age and pregnancies in women with complicated chronic medical disorders.

Objectives: To identify women undergoing peripartum hysterectomy in the UK and to describe the causes, management and outcome of the associated haemorrhage. Design: A population-based descriptive study using the UK Obstetric Surveillance System (UKOSS). Setting: All 229 hospitals with consultant-led maternity units in the UK. Population: All women in the UK delivering between February 2005 and February 2006. Methods: Prospective case identification through the UKOSS monthly mailing. Main outcome measures: Rates with 95% CIs. Odds ratio estimates. Results: Three hundred and eighteen women underwent peripartum hysterectomy. The most commonly reported causes of haemorrhage were uterine atony (53%) and morbidly adherent placenta (39%). Women were not universally managed with uterotonic therapies. Fifty women were unsuccessfully managed with B-Lynch or other brace suture prior to hysterectomy, 28 with activated factor VII and 9 with arterial embolisation. Twenty-one percent of women suffered damage to other structures, 20% required a further operation and 19% were reported to have additional severe morbidity. Bladder damage was more likely in women with placenta accreta (OR 3.41, 95% CI 1.55–7.48) than in women with uterine atony. There were no significant differences in outcomes between women undergoing total or subtotal hysterectomy. Two women died; case fatality 0.6% (95% CI 0–1.5%). Conclusions: For each woman who dies in the UK following peripartum hysterectomy, more than 150 survive. The associated haemorrhage is managed in a variety of ways and not universally according to existing guidelines. Further investigation of the outcomes following some of the more innovative therapies for control of haemorrhage is needed.

BACKGROUND: Amniotic-fluid embolism is a rare, but serious and often fatal maternal complication of delivery, of which the cause is unknown. We undertook an epidemiological study to investigate the association between amniotic-fluid embolism and medical induction of labour.
METHODS: We used a population-based cohort of 3 million hospital deliveries in Canada between 1991 and 2002 to assess the associations between overall and fatal rates of amniotic-fluid embolism and medical and surgical induction, maternal age, fetal presentation, mode of delivery, and pregnancy and labour complications.
FINDINGS: Total rate of amniotic-fluid embolism was 14.8 per 100,000 multiple-birth deliveries and 6.0 per 100,000 singleton deliveries (odds ratio 2.5 [95% CI 0.9-6.2]). Of the 180 cases of amniotic-fluid embolism in women with singleton deliveries during the study period, 24 (13%) were fatal. We saw no significant temporal increase in occurrence of amniotic-fluid embolism for total or fatal cases. Medical induction of labour nearly doubled the risk of overall cases of amniotic-fluid embolism (adjusted odds ratio 1.8 [1.3-2.7]), and the association was stronger for fatal cases (crude odds ratio 3.5 [1.5-8.4]). Maternal age of 35 years or older, caesarean or instrumental vaginal delivery, polyhydramnios, cervical laceration or uterine rupture, placenta previa or abruption, eclampsia, and fetal distress were also associated with an increased risk.
INTERPRETATION: Medical induction of labour seems to increase the risk of amniotic-fluid embolism. Although the absolute excess risk is low, women and physicians should be aware of this risk when making decisions about elective labour induction.

BACKGROUND: The rate of elective primary cesarean delivery continues to rise, owing in part to the widespread perception that the procedure is of little or no risk to healthy women.
METHODS: Using the Canadian Institute for Health Information's Discharge Abstract Database, we carried out a retrospective population-based cohort study of all women in Canada (excluding Quebec and Manitoba) who delivered from April 1991 through March 2005. Healthy women who underwent a primary cesarean delivery for breech presentation constituted a surrogate "planned cesarean group" considered to have undergone low-risk elective cesarean delivery, for comparison with an otherwise similar group of women who had planned to deliver vaginally.
RESULTS: The planned cesarean group comprised 46,766 women v. 2,292,420 in the planned vaginal delivery group; overall rates of severe morbidity for the entire 14-year period were 27.3 and 9.0, respectively, per 1000 deliveries. The planned cesarean group had increased postpartum risks of cardiac arrest (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 5.1, 95% confidence interval [CI] 4.1-6.3), wound hematoma (OR 5.1, 95% CI 4.6-5.5), hysterectomy (OR 3.2, 95% CI 2.2-4.8), major puerperal infection (OR 3.0, 95% CI 2.7-3.4), anesthetic complications (OR 2.3, 95% CI 2.0-2.6), venous thromboembolism (OR 2.2, 95% CI 1.5-3.2) and hemorrhage requiring hysterectomy (OR 2.1, 95% CI 1.2-3.8), and stayed in hospital longer (adjusted mean difference 1.47 d, 95% CI 1.46-1.49 d) than those in the planned vaginal delivery group, but a lower risk of hemorrhage requiring blood transfusion (OR 0.4, 95% CI 0.2-0.8). Absolute risk increases in severe maternal morbidity rates were low (e.g., for postpartum cardiac arrest, the increase with planned cesarean delivery was 1.6 per 1000 deliveries, 95% CI 1.2-2.1). The difference in the rate of in-hospital maternal death between the 2 groups was nonsignificant (p = 0.87).
INTERPRETATION: Although the absolute difference is small, the risks of severe maternal morbidity associated with planned cesarean delivery are higher than those associated with planned vaginal delivery. These risks should be considered by women contemplating an elective cesarean delivery and by their physicians.

OBJECTIVE: Because postpartum hemorrhage may result from factors related to obstetrical practice patterns, we examined the variability of postpartum hemorrhage and related risk factors (obstetrical trauma, chorioamnionitis, and protracted labor) across hospital types and hospitals in California.
METHODS: Linked birth certificate and hospital discharge data from 507,410 births in California in 1997 were analyzed. Cases were identified using International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Edition, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) codes. Comparisons were made across hospital types and individual hospitals. Risk adjustments were made using 1) sample restriction to a subset of 324,671 low-risk women, and 2) Bayesian hierarchical logistic regression model to simultaneously quantify the effects of patient-level and hospital-level risk factors.
RESULTS: Postpartum hemorrhage complicated 2.4% of live births. The incidence ranged from 1.6% for corporate hospitals to 4.9% for university hospitals in the full sample, and from 1.4% for corporate hospitals to 3.9% for university hospitals in the low-risk sample. Low-risk women who delivered at government, HMO and university hospitals had two- to threefold increased odds (odds ratios 1.98 to 2.71; 95% confidence sets ranged from 1.52 to 4.62) of having postpartum hemorrhage compared to women who delivered at corporate hospitals, irrespective of patient-level characteristics. They also had significantly higher rates of obstetrical trauma and chorioamnionitis. Greater variations were observed across individual hospitals.
CONCLUSION: The incidence of postpartum hemorrhage and related risk factors varied substantially across hospital types and hospitals in California. Further studies using primary data sources are needed to determine whether these variations are related to the processes of care.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether obstetric admissions to the intensive care unit (ICU) are useful quality-assurance indicators.
METHODS: We analyzed retrospectively obstetric ICU admissions at two tertiary care centers from 1991 to 1997.
RESULTS: The 131 obstetric admissions represented 0.3% of all deliveries. The majority (78%) of women were admitted to the ICU postpartum. Obstetric hemorrhage (26%) and hypertension (21%) were the two most common reasons for admission. Together with cardiac disease, respiratory disorders, and infection, they accounted for more than 80% of all admissions. Preexisting medical conditions were present in 38% of all admissions. The median Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score was 8.5. The predicted mortality rate for the group was 10.0%, and the actual mortality rate was 2.3%.
CONCLUSION: The most common precipitants of ICU admission were obstetric hemorrhage and uncontrolled hypertension. Improved management strategies for these problems may significantly reduce major maternal morbidity.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the success rates and risks of an attempted vaginal birth after cesarean delivery (VBAC) according to the number of prior successful VBACs.
METHODS: From a prospective multicenter registry collected at 19 clinical centers from 1999 to 2002, we selected women with one or more prior low transverse cesarean deliveries who attempted a VBAC in the current pregnancy. Outcomes were compared according to the number of prior VBAC attempts subsequent to the last cesarean delivery.
RESULTS: Among 13,532 women meeting eligibility criteria, VBAC success increased with increasing number of prior VBACs: 63.3%, 87.6%, 90.9%, 90.6%, and 91.6% for those with 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 or more prior VBACs, respectively (P<.001). The rate of uterine rupture decreased after the first successful VBAC and did not increase thereafter: 0.87%, 0.45%, 0.38%, 0.54%, 0.52% (P=.03). The risk of uterine dehiscence and other peripartum complications also declined statistically after the first successful VBAC. No increase in neonatal morbidities was seen with increasing VBAC number thereafter.
CONCLUSION: Women with prior successful VBAC attempts are at low risk for maternal and neonatal complications during subsequent VBAC attempts. An increasing number of prior VBACs is associated with a greater probability of VBAC success, as well as a lower risk of uterine rupture and perinatal complications in the current pregnancy.
LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II.

In 2003, the 4 million hospitalizations for women giving birth accounted for 11 percent of all stays in U.S. community hospitals. The average charge for these hospitalizations was $8,300, with aggregate annual charges (i.e., the national bill) totaling over $33 billion. Charges varied greatly depending on the mode of delivery (vaginal versus C-section) and the presence of complications. For example, charges for C-sections with complications averaged $15,500, which is 2.5 times the mean charge for uncomplicated vaginal births. The mean length of stay (LOS) for all deliveries was 2.6 days. The amount of time women remained hospitalized following delivery also varied greatly, ranging from 2.1 days for uncomplicated vaginal deliveries to 4.6 days for C-sections with complications.

INCIDENCE: Amniotic fluid embolism is a catastrophic syndrome that occurs during pregnancy or in the immediate postpartum period. Multiple case reports have described the clinical findings and have reported variable success with supportive care. There has been discrepancy with respect to the incidence and mortality of amniotic fluid embolism. One likely explanation for this inconsistency is the lack of sensitive and specific diagnostic studies to definitively identify cases of amniotic fluid embolism, leading to both over- and underreporting. Despite the variation in reported incidence and mortality, amniotic fluid embolism remains a life-threatening condition with significant morbidity and mortality for the pregnant woman. It is the fifth most common cause of maternal mortality in the world.
DIAGNOSIS: The diagnosis of amniotic fluid embolism continues to be a clinical diagnosis and a diagnosis of exclusion based on the rapid development of a complex constellation of findings with sudden cardiovascular collapse, acute left ventricular failure with pulmonary edema, disseminated intravascular coagulation, and neurologic impairment. Given the significant morbidity and mortality associated with this condition, a high index of suspicion is warranted. Suspected risk factors have included tumultuous labor, trauma, multiparity, increased gestational age, and increased maternal age. However, many patients who develop amniotic fluid embolism have no obvious risk factors.
MANAGEMENT: Patients with amniotic fluid embolus are best managed using a multidisciplinary approach. There are no pharmacologic or other therapies that prevent or treat the amniotic fluid embolism syndrome, and supportive care typically involves aggressive treatment of multiple types of shock simultaneously. In this article we discuss the clinical presentation of amniotic fluid embolism syndrome as well as current opinions regarding pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management.

OBJECTIVE: The objective was to investigate the incidence, indications, and risk factors of peripartum emergent hysterectomy.
METHOD: Fifty-nine cases of emergent peripartum hysterectomy performed at Zeynep Kamil Women and Children's Education and Research Hospital during a 13-year period between January 1990 and January 2003 were evaluated retrospectively. Emergent peripartum hysterectomy was defined as that performed for haemorrhage unresponsive to other therapeutic interventions within the first 24 h of delivery.
RESULT: Emergent peripartum hysterectomy was performed in 59 cases of 234,958 women (25.1/100,000). Total and subtotal hysterectomy was performed in 25 and 34 cases respectively. The rates of emergent peripartum hysterectomy after vaginal and caesarean deliveries were 8.7/100,000 and 104.5/100,000 respectively. Uterine atony was the most frequent indication (62.7%). The rates of emergent peripartum hysterectomy due to uterine atony in primiparous and multiparous women were 61.1 and 65.2% respectively. The rate of maternal mortality was 8% (5 cases).
CONCLUSION: Uterine atony was the most common indication for emergent peripartum hysterectomy.

BACKGROUND: During childbirth, the maternal need for intensive care unit (ICU) services is not well-defined. This information could influence the decision whether to incorporate ICU services into the labor and delivery suite.
METHODS: This study reports (1) ICU use and mortality rates in a statewide population of obstetric patients during their hospital admission for childbirth, and (2) the risk factors associated with ICU admission and mortality. A case-control design using patient records from a state-maintained anonymous database for the years 1984-1997 was used. Outcome variables included ICU use and mortality rates.
RESULTS: Of the 822,591 hospital admissions for delivery of neonates during the study period, there were 1,023 ICU admissions (0.12%) and 34 ICU deaths (3.3%). Age, race, hospital type, volume of deliveries, and source of admission independently and in combination were associated with ICU admission (P < 0.05). The most common risk factors associated with ICU admission included cesarean section, preeclampsia or eclampsia, and postpartum hemorrhage (P < 0.001). Black race, high hospital volume of deliveries, and longer duration of ICU stay were associated with ICU mortality (P < 0.05). The most common risk factors associated with ICU mortality included pulmonary complications, shock, cerebrovascular event, and drug dependence (P < 0.05).
CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that ICU use and mortality rate during hospital admission for delivery of a neonate is low. These results may influence the location of perinatal ICU services in the hospital setting.

OBJECTIVE: To assess whether severe acute maternal morbidity (SAMM, 'near misses') can be used as a surrogate of an analysis of maternal deaths to describe the pattern of severe maternal disease and avoidable factors related to it.
DESIGN: Prospective, descriptive study.
SETTING: A SAMM and maternal mortality audit was conducted in three clearly defined geographical areas, consisting of rural and urban settings in South Africa.
POPULATION: Indigent black African pregnant women.
METHOD: Cases of SAMM and maternal deaths were collected in the areas and a comparison was made of the disease profiles and avoidable factors, missed opportunities and substandard care.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The proportion of primary obstetric causes and avoidable factors in women with SAMM and maternal deaths, and the mortality indices of the primary obstetric causes of death and organ system dysfunction.
RESULTS: A total of 423 women with SAMM and 128 maternal deaths were collected over two years. Demographic factors were similar between the groups except that significantly more maternal deaths had not attended any antenatal care. The primary obstetric causes of SAMM and maternal death did not correlate. The four most common causes of SAMM were complications of hypertension (27.2%), postpartum haemorrhage (18.0%), antepartum haemorrhage (12.8%) and abortion (11.3%), whereas the four most common causes of maternal death were non-pregnancy related sepsis (26.6%), complications of hypertension (23.4%), pre-existing medical disease (14.1%) and abortion (10.9%). The types of avoidable factors were similar between both groups although administrative factors occurred significantly more frequently in the maternal death group as did poor problem identification and monitoring.
CONCLUSION: Review of SAMM gives a different disease pattern to that obtained from maternal death audits. However, in diagnosing inadequacies in the health system, similar information was obtained.

Over the past 25 years, 43 peripartum hysterectomies were performed at the authors' institution, an incidence of 0.64/1,000 deliveries; 31 procedures followed caesarean section and 12 were performed for haemorrhage following vaginal delivery. The common indications for hysterectomy were abnormal placentation (39.5%), uterine atony (23.3%), uterine rupture (23.3%), and haemorrhage during caesarean section (11.6%). The risk factors for hysterectomy included advancing maternal age and parity, previous caesarean section scars and abnormal placentation. Subtotal hysterectomy was performed in 72.1% cases which appeared a quicker and safer procedure than total hysterectomy in desperately ill patients. Five (11.6%) maternal deaths occurred in the series. Mortality was associated with massive haemorrhage. With rising caesarean section rates worldwide, MRI and colour Doppler sonography is useful to diagnose antepartum placenta accreta/bladder involvement in order to plan elective surgery that is associated with reduced maternal morbidity and mortality. Early decision to perform an emergency hysterectomy is essential before the patient's condition deteriorates, besides availability of an experienced obstetrician to undertake a technically demanding operation.

A retrospective case-review of 52 mothers who had a peripartum hysterectomy over the past 27 years was conducted at the Rotunda hospital, Dublin, Ireland. The chief indications were uncontrollable haemorrhage due to rupture of the uterus, placenta praevia and uterine atony. Obstetric hysterectomy is a formidable operation, usually performed as a life-saving measure and requires expert surgical dexterity in order to minimise the significant morbidity. The benefits of the subtotal operation appear to be superior to those of total hysterectomy. Counselling patients having a caesarean section regarding the possibility of hysterectomy is advisable in those who have had previous uterine surgery, multiple caesarean sections or placenta praevia.

Amniotic fluid embolism (AFE) is a rare obstetric catastrophe that occurs suddenly and without warning. AFE is a condition that is poorly understood and often difficult to diagnose, but has a high maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality. Since it was first described in 1926, the underlying pathophysiology has eluded researchers and clinicians. While a new understanding of the syndrome has emerged with the advent of a national registry in the 1980s, recommendations for diagnostic methods and treatment in the acute phase of the event remain unclear.The purpose of this article is to provide the reader with a historical look at the phenomenon of AFE, a description of its suspected pathophysiology, and recommendations for nursing interventions. A review of data from the national registry and other classic studies are included.

OBJECTIVE: Although repeat cesarean deliveries often are associated with serious morbidity, they account for only a portion of abdominal deliveries and are overlooked when evaluating morbidity. Our objective was to estimate the magnitude of increased maternal morbidity associated with increasing number of cesarean deliveries.
METHODS: Prospective observational cohort of 30,132 women who had cesarean delivery without labor in 19 academic centers over 4 years (1999-2002).
RESULTS: There were 6,201 first (primary), 15,808 second, 6,324 third, 1,452 fourth, 258 fifth, and 89 sixth or more cesarean deliveries. The risks of placenta accreta, cystotomy, bowel injury, ureteral injury, and ileus, the need for postoperative ventilation, intensive care unit admission, hysterectomy, and blood transfusion requiring 4 or more units, and the duration of operative time and hospital stay significantly increased with increasing number of cesarean deliveries. Placenta accreta was present in 15 (0.24%), 49 (0.31%), 36 (0.57%), 31 (2.13%), 6 (2.33%), and 6 (6.74%) women undergoing their first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth or more cesarean deliveries, respectively. Hysterectomy was required in 40 (0.65%) first, 67 (0.42%) second, 57 (0.90%) third, 35 (2.41%) fourth, 9 (3.49%) fifth, and 8 (8.99%) sixth or more cesarean deliveries. In the 723 women with previa, the risk for placenta accreta was 3%, 11%, 40%, 61%, and 67% for first, second, third, fourth, and fifth or more repeat cesarean deliveries, respectively.
CONCLUSION: Because serious maternal morbidity increases progressively with increasing number of cesarean deliveries, the number of intended pregnancies should be considered during counseling regarding elective repeat cesarean operation versus a trial of labor and when debating the merits of elective primary cesarean delivery.
LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II-2.

Perimortem caesarean section is very rare, mostly resulting in high mortality of mother and/or fetus. We report a case of successful resuscitation of both mother and newborn following maternal cardiac arrest prior to delivery. Postoperative outcome was complicated by severe bleeding and coagulopathy following fibrinolysis and subcapsular hepatic haematoma. We consider a fast reaction time based on a special in-hospital emergency team for immediate caesarean section and an aggressive management of coagulopathy as major factors that led to both patients recovery without neurological sequelae.

Amniotic fluid embolism occurs rarely but is a leading cause of maternal mortality. A high index of clinical suspicion is necessary to make an early diagnosis to reduce morbidity and mortality. We report a non-fatal case of amniotic fluid embolism occurring during a caesarean section, with special emphasis on the mode of development and diagnosis. The initial presentation of this syndrome was a coagulopathy, followed by the usual complications of massive bleeding. Although non-specific, the diagnosis of amniotic fluid embolism was supported by the observation of amniotic fluid in the central venous blood as well as in the broncho-alveolar fluid.

Maternal deaths in developed countries continue to decline and are rare. Maternal mortality statistics are essentially similar in the United States and United Kingdom. However, the situation is completely different in developing countries, where maternal mortality exceeds 0.5 million every year. This article not only assesses morbidity risks in some of the leading causes of maternal death but also highlights strategies to minimize the risks and to prevent maternal morbidity and mortality.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the incidence and predictors of severe obstetric morbidity.
DESIGN: Development of definitions of severe obstetric morbidity by literature review. Case-control study from a defined delivery population with four randomly selected pregnant women as controls for every case.
SETTING: All 19 maternity units within the South East Thames region and six neighbouring hospitals caring for pregnant women from the region between 1 March 1997 and 28 February 1998.
PARTICIPANTS: 48 865 women who delivered during the time frame.
RESULTS: There were 588 cases of severe obstetric morbidity giving an incidence of 12.0/1000 deliveries (95% confidence interval 11.2 to 13.2). During the study there were five maternal deaths attributed to conditions studied. Disease specific morbidities per 1000 deliveries were 6.7 (6.0 to 7.5) for severe haemorrhage, 3.9 (3.3 to 4.5) for severe pre-eclampsia, 0.2 (0.1 to 0.4) for eclampsia, 0.5 (0.3 to 0.8) for HELLP (Haemolysis, Elevated Liver enzymes, and Low Platelets) syndrome, 0.4 (0.2 to 0.6) for severe sepsis, and 0.2 (0.1 to 0.4) for uterine rupture. Age over 34 years, non-white ethnic group, past or current hypertension, previous postpartum haemorrhage, delivery by emergency caesarean section, antenatal admission to hospital, multiple pregnancy, social exclusion, and taking iron or anti-depressants at antenatal booking were all independently associated with morbidity after adjustment.
CONCLUSION: Severe obstetric morbidity and its relation to mortality may be more sensitive measures of pregnancy outcome than mortality alone. Most events are related to obstetric haemorrhage and severe pre-eclampsia. Caesarean section quadruples the risk of morbidity. Development and evaluation of ways of predicting and reducing risk are required with particular emphasis paid on the management of haemorrhage and pre-eclampsia.

Objective To identify the impact of pregnancy and childbirth, and severe obstetric morbidity on outcome 6 to 12 months postpartum. Design Questionnaire assessment of postnatal outcome in a cohort study. Setting South East Thames, UK. Population All women resident in South East Thames and delivering between 1st March 1997 and 28th February 1998. Methods Questionnaire study of a cohort of women who experienced a severe obstetric morbidity during pregnancy or labour (cases), compared with a cohort of women who did not (controls). Main outcome measures Assessment of postnatal depression risk [Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS)], general health [Short Form 36 (SF-36)], sexual activity and use of health services between 6 and 12 months postpartum. Results There were 331 cases and 1339 controls out of 48,262 deliveries. Six to 12 months after delivery, 77 (23.3%) of cases and 272 (20.5%) of the controls were at risk of postnatal depression (P ¼ 0.25; 95% CI for difference 2.2% to 7.9%), 43.1% of cases were having problems with sexual relations compared with 18.7% of controls (P < 0.001; 95% CI for difference 8.9% to 21.9%). There was evidence of poorer general health in cases. Some 31.5% of cases attended outpatients in the first six months and 9.4% required emergency admission to hospital compared with 17.0% (P < 0.001; 95% CI for difference 9.1% to 19.9%) and 3.7% (P < 0.001; 95% CI for difference 2.4% to 9.0%), respectively, in controls. Conclusion Both control pregnancy and childbirth and severe obstetric morbidity are associated with significant postnatal morbidity. A severe obstetric morbid event significantly influences women’s sexual health and wellbeing and increases health services utilisation. Prevention and appropriate management of severe obstetric morbid events may reduce these outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Although death rates are often used to monitor the quality of health care, in industrialized countries maternal deaths have become rare. Severe maternal morbidity has therefore been proposed as a supplementary indicator for surveillance of the quality of maternity care. Our purpose in this study was to describe severe maternal morbidity in Canada over a 10-year period, among women with or without major pre-existing conditions.
METHODS: We carried out a retrospective cohort study of severe maternal morbidity involving 2,548,824 women who gave birth in Canadian hospitals between 1991 and 2000. Thirteen conditions that may threaten the life of the mother (e.g., eclampsia) and 11 major pre-existing chronic conditions (e.g., diabetes) that could be identified from diagnostic codes were noted.
RESULTS: The overall rate of severe maternal morbidity was 4.38 per 1000 deliveries. The fatality rate among these women was 158 times that of the entire sample. Rates of venous thromboembolism, uterine rupture, adult respiratory distress syndrome, pulmonary edema, myocardial infarction, severe postpartum hemorrhage requiring hysterectomy, and assisted ventilation increased substantially from 1991 to 2000. The presence of major pre-existing conditions increased the risk of severe maternal morbidity to 6-fold.
INTERPRETATION: Severe maternal morbidity occurs in about 1 of 250 deliveries in Canada, with marked recent increases in certain morbid conditions such as pulmonary edema, myocardial infarction, hemorrhage requiring hysterectomy, and the use of assisted ventilation.

OBJECTIVE: Most studies of peripartum hysterectomy are conducted in single institutions, limiting the ability to provide national incidence estimates and examine risk factors. The objective of this study was to provide a national estimate of the incidence of peripartum hysterectomy and to examine factors associated with the procedure.
METHODS: We used data for 1998-2003 from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Nationwide Inpatient Sample, an annual nationally representative survey of inpatient hospitalizations. Peripartum hysterectomy was defined as a hysterectomy and delivery occurring during the same hospitalization. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were adjusted for maternal and hospital characteristics using logistic regression.
RESULTS: During 1998-2003, an estimated 18,339 peripartum hysterectomies occurred in the United States (0.77 per 1,000 deliveries). Compared with vaginal delivery without a previous cesarean delivery, the ORs of peripartum hysterectomy for other delivery types were as follows: repeat cesarean, 8.90 (95% CI 8.09-9.79); primary cesarean, 6.54 (95% CI 5.95-7.18); and vaginal birth after cesarean, 2.70 (95% CI 2.23-3.26). Multiple births were associated with an increased risk compared with singleton births (OR 1.41, 95% CI 1.16-1.71).
CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that vaginal birth after cesarean, primary and repeat cesarean deliveries, and multiple births are independently associated with an increased risk for peripartum hysterectomy. These findings may be of concern, given the increasing rate of both cesarean deliveries and multiple births in the United States.
LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the incidence, indications, risk factors, and complications of emergency peripartum hysterectomy.
STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective study of the patients requiring an emergency peripartum hysterectomy of a 9-year period was conducted. Emergency peripartum hysterectomy was defined as one performed for hemorrhage unresponsive to other treatment less than 24 h after delivery. Demographic and clinical variables were obtained from the maternal records.
RESULTS: There were 34 emergency peripartum hysterectomies out of 117,095 deliveries for a rate of 0.29 per 1,000. Of the 16 cases that were delivered by cesarean section, seven had a previous cesarean section and 18 cases were delivered vaginally, including two using vacuum extraction. Total hysterectomy was performed in 24 patients, and subtotal hysterectomy in ten patients. The indications for hysterectomy were uterine rupture (n=12), placenta accreta (n=10), uterine atony (n=7), and hemorrhage (n=5). There were two maternal deaths, six stillbirths, and two early neonatal deaths.
CONCLUSION: This study identified surgical deliveries, uterine rupture, placenta accreta, and uterine atony as risk factors for emergency peripartum hysterectomy. The most common reason for abnormal placental adherence was a previous cesarean section. Multiparity and oxytocin use for uterine stimulation were among the risk factors for uterine atony that necessitated emergency peripartum hysterectomy.

INTRODUCTION: Obstetric patients are generally young and healthy. However, the potential for catastrophic complications is real, and despite the therapeutic advances of the last few decades, maternal morbidity and mortality continue to occur. This may be related to the pregnancy itself, aggravation of a preexisting illness, or complications of the (operative) delivery.
PURPOSE: The purpose of this review is two-fold: first, to provide an update on currently available reports pertaining to important critical care issues of the obstetric patient population and, second, to present current comprehensive treatment options for preeclampsia and massive obstetric hemorrhage because both are responsible for the majority of maternal mortality and morbidity worldwide.
RESULTS: The most common reasons for intensive care unit admission are hypertensive disorders and massive obstetric hemorrhage. Timely delivery and prompt initiation of antihypertensive therapy for severe hypertension form the mainstay of care in preeclampsia. Restoration of circulating blood volume and rapid control of bleeding and impaired coagulation are the main factors in the management of massive obstetric hemorrhage. Puerperal morbidity has become the main topic of quality of care issues in maternity care. Although the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score is commonly used in the intensive care unit, it does not seem to be appropriate for pregnant women because it overestimates their mortality rates. A high-dependency care unit suits the needs for at least half of the obstetric patient population in need of higher acuity care and will save considerable cost.
CONCLUSION: Emphasis on early detection of maternal problems and prompt referral to tertiary centers with intensive care unit facilities to provide optimum care of the circulation, blood pressure, and respiration at an early stage could minimize the prevalence of multiple organ failure and mortality in critically ill obstetric patients.

An overview of the role of the California Maternal Quality Care Collaborative (CMQCC) to reduce the rising rates of maternal mortality and the associated increase in maternal morbidity in the state of California. The innovative connection of a quality improvement collaborative with the California Pregnancy-Related and Pregnancy-Associated Mortality Review committee facilitates the more rapid diffusion of findings into action.

A reasonable trigger tool for nursing charting on L&D. From: Appendix to Saving Mother's Lives (2007); also published in: International Journal of Obstetric Anesthesia (2006) 15, S1-S43 Abstracts of free papers presented at the annual meeting of the Obstetric Anaesthetists? Association, Glasgow 11-12 May, 2006. “Early-warning scoring in obstetrics”. P Harrison, C Hawe, F McIlveney. Department of Anaesthesia, Stirling Royal Infirmary, Stirling, UK.