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Is intrapartum asphyxia preventable?
Author(s) -
Becher JC,
Stenson BJ,
Lyon AJ
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
bjog: an international journal of obstetrics and gynaecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.157
H-Index - 164
eISSN - 1471-0528
pISSN - 1470-0328
DOI - 10.1111/j.1471-0528.2007.01487.x
Subject(s) - asphyxia , medicine , asphyxia neonatorum , encephalopathy , mortality rate , obstetrics , pediatrics , anesthesia , surgery
The contribution of intrapartum events to asphyxia‐related mortality and morbidity and the degree to which it may be prevented are controversial. We examined trends in asphyxia‐related mortality and morbidity in a single large regional perinatal centre. Between 1994 and 2005, the rate of asphyxia fell from 2.86/1000 births in 1994 to 0.91/1000 births in 2005 ( P < 0.001). Hypoxic‐ischaemic encephalopathy of all grades fell from 2.41 to 0.77/1000 live births ( P < 0.001). This substantial and steady fall in the rate of asphyxia‐related mortality and morbidity over a 12‐year period suggests that a significant proportion of cases of intrapartum asphyxia may be preventable.