Report on confidential enquiries into maternal deaths in England and Wales, 1964-1966 / by Humphrey Arthure [and others].

Date:
1969
Catalogue details

Licence: Open Government Licence

Credit: Report on confidential enquiries into maternal deaths in England and Wales, 1964-1966 / by Humphrey Arthure [and others]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    17/132 (page 9)
    alteration in the nature of these reports on confidential enquiries, so that the numbers of deaths in each category can be compared with previous years. The principle that each death is attributed to one and only one cause has been con- tinued, although deaths with multiple causes have been considered in other chapters. New chapters have been written on deaths from ectopic pregnancy, on deaths from sepsis, and on miscellaneous causes of maternal death, including suicide. Tables will be found in Appendix I giving figures for the enquiry series and for registered maternal deaths, analysing the causes of death in accordance with the International Classification of Diseases. Tables are given for the three-year period 1964-66, and in the 1961-63 report tables were given for the twelve years 1952-63. The four major causes of maternal deaths which show a considerable reduc- tion in each group except abortions are shown in Table IV but the figures for 1952-54 are not included as they are not strictly comparable. TABLE IV Major causes of Maternal Deaths directly due to pregnancy and childbirth included in the enquiry, 1955-66. 1955-37 1958-60 1961-63 1964-66 Abortion... 14] 133 139 133 Pulmonary embolism 157 132 129 91 Haemorrhage if 138 130 92 68 Toxatnud: |... ae 171 118 104 67 All other causes... 254 ya | 228 220 Batal - .. 861 742 692 579 Although it is important to record abortion as a major cause of maternal death, the actual cause of deaths from abortion may be sepsis, haemorrhage, pulmonary embolism or air embolism. If abortion is not classified as a major cause, deaths could be classified as follows: 1. Haemorrhage, including haemorrhage from abortions, ectopic pregnancy, rupture of uterus and from Caesarean section . ie 152 2. Sepsis, including bie abortion, puerperal sepsis and post operative sepsis a 123 3. Pulmonary embolism, including ‘pulmonary embolism after abortion and ectopic pregnancy os ae AN ak 95 4. Toxaemia son ers me re: ag _— a an 67 This table emphasizes the importance of sepsis as a major cause of maternal death, and justifies a new chapter on sepsis. The frequency of death from haemorrhage deserves comment, and many of these deaths are surely prevent- able. If the value of these reports on confidential enquiries is to be maintained we