Feto-maternal outcomes in near miss events in obstetrics

Background: Maternal near miss is defined by world health organization as a woman, who being close to death survives a complication occurring during pregnancy, delivery or upto 42 days after her end of pregnancy.It is a retrospective diagnosis. Evaluation of near miss maternal morbidity and mortality is a surveillance method to assess the quality of obstetric care and determinants of poor maternal outcome. It is an indicator of quality of obstetrical care. Aims and objectives for current study was to evaluate the cause of near miss maternal morbidity in our hospital which occurred either in admitted patients or were referred from elsewhere and to study the maternal and fetal outcomes in all near miss cases.Methods: A retrospective review of obstetrical records as well as prospective analysis was done at Christian medical college and hospital, a tertiary care teaching institute in North India and referral centre. The study was done for a period of one year from November 2018 to October 2019 retrospectively and for 6 months from November 2019 to April 2020 prospectively. The maternal near miss cases were taken as per WHO criteria.Results: The age ranged from 19 years to 49 years with maximum belonging to age group of 20-24 years. Maximum number of cases was primigravida and was in third trimester. The primary obstetric complication evaluated were hypertensive disorders followed by hematological diseases, viral hepatitis, haemorrhage, and obstructed labour or ruptured uterus.Conclusions: All the causes of MNM observed in this study are preventable causes, which can be identified timely and treated early to prevent maternal mortality, thereby, improving obstetrical and neonatal outcome.

Prediction of severe adverse maternal outcome in women admitted in obstetric ward using physiological and biochemical parameters

Background: To study physiological and biochemical parameters to predict serious adverse maternal outcomes and to develop risk score using above parameters.Methods: This prospective study was conducted in 500 high risk pregnant women attending tertiary care teaching hospital. We noted physiological and biochemical parameters as soon as they were available .The primary outcome measures was “severe adverse maternal outcome(SAMO)” in form of one or more among mortality, near miss morbidity and ICU admissions.Results: Out-off 500 women, severe adverse maternal outcomes were seen in 158 (31.6%) women. Most common cause of near miss maternal morbidity was hypertensive disease of pregnancy (62.7%) followed by major obstetric hemorrhage (18.9%). There were 33(6.6%) ICU admission, 23 (4.6%) maternal death and 153 (30.6%) near miss maternal morbidity. The most common cause of maternal death in our study was obstetric hemorrhage. The significant variables after multivariate analysis [temp, pulse, urine protein] were used to devise a Maternal early warning score (MEWS) based on physiological parameters at score value of ≥1/6 was found to have sensitivity of 70% and specificity of 82% in predicting SAMO with AUROC of 0.76. The significant laboratory parameters after multivariate analysis were blood urea, serum creatinine, serum bilirubin and liver enzymes. The obstetric risk score (Maternal risk prediction score MRPS) which incorporated of these laboratory parameters in addition to physiological parameters has sensitivity of 82% and specificity of 75% with AUROC 0.79 value ≥ 2/18.Conclusions: The addition of laboratotory parameters to physiological variables improves performance of risk score to predict SAMO.

Beyond maternal death: improving the quality of maternal care through national studies of ‘near-miss’ maternal morbidity

BackgroundStudies of maternal mortality have been shown to result in important improvements to women’s health. It is now recognised that in countries such as the UK, where maternal deaths are rare, the study of near-miss severe maternal morbidity provides additional information to aid disease prevention, treatment and service provision.ObjectivesTo (1) estimate the incidence of specific near-miss morbidities; (2) assess the contribution of existing risk factors to incidence; (3) describe different interventions and their impact on outcomes and costs; (4) identify any groups in which outcomes differ; (5) investigate factors associated with maternal death; (6) compare an external confidential enquiry or a local review approach for investigating quality of care for affected women; and (7) assess the longer-term impacts.MethodsMixed quantitative and qualitative methods including primary national observational studies, database analyses, surveys and case studies overseen by a user advisory group.SettingMaternity units in all four countries of the UK.ParticipantsWomen with near-miss maternal morbidities, their partners and comparison women without severe morbidity.Main outcome measuresThe incidence, risk factors, management and outcomes of uterine rupture, placenta accreta, haemolysis, elevated liver enzymes and low platelets (HELLP) syndrome, severe sepsis, amniotic fluid embolism and pregnancy at advanced maternal age (≥ 48 years at completion of pregnancy); factors associated with progression from severe morbidity to death; associations between severe maternal morbidity and ethnicity and socioeconomic status; lessons for care identified by local and external review; economic evaluation of interventions for management of postpartum haemorrhage (PPH); women’s experiences of near-miss maternal morbidity; long-term outcomes; and models of maternity care commissioned through experience-led and standard approaches.ResultsWomen and their partners reported long-term impacts of near-miss maternal morbidities on their physical and mental health. Older maternal age and caesarean delivery are associated with severe maternal morbidity in both current and future pregnancies. Antibiotic prescription for pregnant or postpartum women with suspected infection does not necessarily prevent progression to severe sepsis, which may be rapidly progressive. Delay in delivery, of up to 48 hours, may be safely undertaken in women with HELLP syndrome in whom there is no fetal compromise. Uterine compression sutures are a cost-effective second-line therapy for PPH. Medical comorbidities are associated with a fivefold increase in the odds of maternal death from direct pregnancy complications. External reviews identified more specific clinical messages for care than local reviews. Experience-led commissioning may be used as a way to commission maternity services.LimitationsThis programme used observational studies, some with limited sample size, and the possibility of uncontrolled confounding cannot be excluded.ConclusionsImplementation of the findings of this research could prevent both future severe pregnancy complications as well as improving the outcome of pregnancy for women. One of the clearest findings relates to the population of women with other medical and mental health problems in pregnancy and their risk of severe morbidity. Further research into models of pre-pregnancy, pregnancy and postnatal care is clearly needed.FundingThe National Institute for Health Research Programme Grants for Applied Research programme.