Causes of maternal death in a second-level hospital: 5-year analysis
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.62954/82j3rn72Keywords:
Maternal Death, Hemorrhage, SARS-CoV-2, Pregnancy-Induced Hypertension, Comorbidity, Cesarean SectionAbstract
Introduction: In Mexico, obstetric hemorrhage has remained the leading cause of maternal death. In the state of Puebla, hypertensive disorders accounted for 37 deaths in 2022, also constituting a significant cause of maternal mortality. Objective: To describe the causes of maternal death in a second-level hospital in the state of Puebla over a five-year period. Materials and Methods: Retrospective study conducted at the General Hospital No. 20, Puebla, Mexico, between January 2018 and December 2022. Clinical records of maternal deaths classified as direct and indirect were analyzed. Sociodemographic variables, obstetric history, comorbidities, length of hospital stay and/or stay in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), and cause of death were recorded. The analysis was descriptive. Results: Thirty-one maternal deaths were recorded. The average age was 26 years. Most had a high school education (14 cases), were employed (18), and were single (24). Twelve were primiparous, and 29 received prenatal care. Pregnancy was terminated by cesarean section in 19 cases. Nine patients had comorbidities. The median length of hospital stay was 3.5 days, and the median length of ICU stay was 1 day. The main causes of death were obstetric hemorrhage (8 cases), hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (6), and SARS-CoV-2 infection (6). There were 16 indirect and 15 direct deaths. Conclusion: Obstetric hemorrhage, SARS-CoV-2 infection, and hypertensive disorders were the main causes of maternal death. These findings underscore the need to strengthen obstetric care in second-level hospitals and improve surveillance of patients with risk factors.
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