Atlas of Neonatal Pathology: Perinatal mortality

+ Introduction

+ Support

+ Neonatal pathology

Perinatal mortality

Introduction

Perinatal mortality is the sum of still births and deaths under 7 days per 1000 total births. Stillbirths are the major component of perinatal mortality, twice as common as early neonatal deaths. More than 300 stillbirths occur annually in the Czech republic. The number of stillbirths remains largely unchanged in recent years while the neonatal mortality has been declined significantly.

Definition of terms

Sillbirth rate — stillbirths per 1000 total births
Early neonatal mortality rate — number of deaths under 7 days i.e. at age of 0 – 6 days per 1000 live births
Perinatal mortality rate — the sum of stillbirth and deaths under 7 days per 1000 total births
Neonatal mortality — under 28 days i.e. at age of 0 – 27 days per 1000 live births
Infant mortality rate — under 1 year per 1000 live births

Etiology

causes of death in the perinatal period:
disorders related to short gestation and low birth weight
congenital malformations and chromosomal abnormalities
newborn affected by maternal complications of pregnancy
- hypertension
- preeclampsia and ecclampsia
- diabetes mellitus
- autoimunity disorders
- heavy smoking
- drug abuse etc.
newborn affected by complications of placenta, umbilical cord and membranes
- placental abruption
- long cord
- true knot
- chorioamnionitis
- fetofetal transfusion in twins
respiratory distress of newborn
bacterial sepsis of newborn
intrauterine hypoxia and birth asphyxia
diseases of the circulatory system
intrauterine infections

Clinical signs

Mortality rates in the Czech republic in 2007:

Stillbirth rate was 2.74 per 1000 total birth.
Early neonatal mortality rate was 1.25 per 1000 live births.
Neonatal mortality and infant mortality rate in the Czech republic are one of the lowest in the world. Neonatal mortality rate was 2.5 per 1000 live births and infant mortality rate 3.14 per 1000 live births.