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A New South Wales Population‐based Study of Stillbirths Weighing 2,500 g or More
Author(s) -
Adelson Pam,
Spurrett Brian,
MD Brian Trudinger,
Frommer Michael
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
australian and new zealand journal of obstetrics and gynaecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.734
H-Index - 65
eISSN - 1479-828X
pISSN - 0004-8666
DOI - 10.1111/j.1479-828x.1993.tb02385.x
Subject(s) - medicine , cause of death , neonatal death , autopsy , obstetrics , fetal death , death certificate , population , cord , perinatal mortality , pediatrics , birth certificate , pregnancy , fetus , surgery , disease , biology , environmental health , pathology , genetics
Summary: This paper describes factors associated with singleton stillbirths weighing 2,500 g or more, born in 1987 and reported to the NSW Midwives' Data Collection (MDC), a statewide perinatal data collection system. A total of 136 singleton stillbirths in this weight range were notified to the MDC, representing one‐quarter of all singleton stillbirths in NSW. MDC records on these stillbirths were linked with perinatal death registrations for 125 of the 136. The death registrations indicated that fetal death occurred during labour in 20 cases, prior to the onset of labour in 98, and at an unknown time in the remaining 7 cases. Placental complications, including haemorrhage and functional abnormalities of the placenta, were the most frequent group of conditions associated with the stillbirths, being recorded as the underlying cause of death in 42 (34%) of the 125 cases. Cord complications (such as cord compression or cord around the neck) were given as the underlying cause of death in 30 cases (24%). The death certificate diagnosis was confirmed by autopsy in only 27 of the 125 cases (22%), although autopsies may have been done on a further 45 cases (36%). An adequate explanation of the cause appeared to be lacking for many of the fetal deaths. This highlights the importance of a thorough and systematic investigation of stillbirths. A list of standard investigations to be carried out following a stillbirth is proposed.