Perinatal Postmortem: Factors Influencing Uptake and Subsequent Outcomes in an Asian Population
- Author:
Vijayan Valayatham
;
Jessie Hiu
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- From:
The Medical Journal of Malaysia
2012;67(1):87-90
- CountryMalaysia
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Aim: To assess uptake of perinatal postmortems (PM) among
mothers experiencing perinatal deaths. Subjective
assessment of factors influencing uptake was studied.
Analysis of perinatal PM outcomes and its impact on cause
analyses of intrauterine fetal demise was made.
Method: 2-year prospective audit on all mothers who had
experienced stillbirths at a tertiary centre. Couples returning for their postnatal consultation following their stillbirths were offered a subjective questionnaire on issues pertaining to the request of PM and their decisions on the requests. Outcome of their PMs was collated.
Result: 71 of 87 (81.6%) women with stillbirths in the 2008-2009 (24 months) period were offered PM examination of
their babies. The preliminary uptake of perinatal PM was 24
(33.8%) at counseling and but only 12 (16.9%) finally had
PMs performed. Perinatal PMs clinched a diagnosis in 5 of 12 cases (42%). Discrepancies existed between external
examination by on-site obstetric doctors and subsequent
examination by a perinatal pathologist.
Conclusion: Perinatal PM is a valuable tool in the assessment of intrauterine fetal demise. Increasing the perinatal PM uptake may improve care of women with stillbirths. Factors affecting parental decisions are discussed.
