Current status of pregnancy-related maternal mortality in Japan: a report from the Maternal Death Exploratory Committee in Japan
Open Access
- 21 March 2016
- Vol. 6 (3), e010304
- https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2015-010304
Abstract
Objective To clarify the problems related to maternal deaths in Japan, including the diseases themselves, causes, treatments and the hospital or regional systems. Design Descriptive study. Setting Maternal death registration system established by the Japan Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (JAOG). Participants Women who died during pregnancy or within a year after delivery, from 2010 to 2014, throughout Japan (N=213). Main outcome measures The preventability and problems in each maternal death. Results Maternal deaths were frequently caused by obstetric haemorrhage (23%), brain disease (16%), amniotic fluid embolism (12%), cardiovascular disease (8%) and pulmonary disease (8%). The Committee considered that it was impossible to prevent death in 51% of the cases, whereas they considered prevention in 26%, 15% and 7% of the cases to be slightly, moderately and highly possible, respectively. It was difficult to prevent maternal deaths due to amniotic fluid embolism and brain disease. In contrast, half of the deaths due to obstetric haemorrhage were considered preventable, because the peak duration between the initial symptoms and initial cardiopulmonary arrest was 1–3 h. Conclusions A range of measures, including individual education and the construction of good relationships among regional hospitals, should be established in the near future, to improve primary care for patients with maternal haemorrhage and to save the lives of mothers in Japan.This publication has 10 references indexed in Scilit:
- MBRRACE-UK: Saving Lives, Improving Mothers' Care – implications for anaesthetistsInternational Journal of Obstetric Anesthesia, 2015
- Maternal Death Due to Stroke Associated With Pregnancy-Induced HypertensionCirculation Journal, 2015
- Increase in Maternal Death-Related Venous Thromboembolism During Pregnancy in Japan (2010–2013)Circulation Journal, 2015
- Cases of death due to serious group A streptococcal toxic shock syndrome in pregnant females in JapanArchiv für Gynäkologie, 2014
- Amniotic fluid embolism: Pathophysiology and new strategies for managementJournal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Research, 2014
- Amniotic fluid embolism: a leading cause of maternal death yet still a medical conundrumInternational Journal of Obstetric Anesthesia, 2013
- Preventing Maternal DeathObstetrics & Gynecology, 2012
- Incidence and Risk Factors for Amniotic-Fluid EmbolismObstetrics & Gynecology, 2010
- Maternal death in the 21st century: causes, prevention, and relationship to cesarean deliveryAmerican Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 2008
- Causes of Maternal Mortality in JapanJAMA, 2000