INTRAUTERINE FETAL DEATHS

FREQUENCY OF CAUSES AT A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

Abstract

Objectives: The objective of the study was to identify the frequency of causes
of intrauterine fetal deaths in patients presenting to a tertiary care setting. Study Design: Cross
Sectional Survey. Settings: Study was conducted at department of obstetrics and gynaecology,
unit- ii Lahore General Hospital, postgraduate medical institute, Lahore. Duration: From April
2010 to October 2010. Results: Majority of the patients of the subjects under the study were
recorded between 21-30 years of age with mean age 26.24+3.58 years. Distribution of of
causes of intrauterine fetal death shows 42% (n=63) with no cause, 23.33% (n=35) with more
than two causes, 20.67% (n=31) with two causes and 14%(n=21) with one cause. Hypertensive
disorders 41.43%(n=62), unexplained 42%(n=63), 35.33%(n=53) were found with physical
injuries, 17%(n=24) with congenital anomaly, antiphospholipid syndrome in 14%(n=21) while
diabetes mellitus was found in 12.67%(n=19) cases. Most of the women were found primiparity
i.e. 49.33% (n=74), Multi para 2-4 in 31.33% (n=47) and only 19.34% (n=29) were found with >
4 grand multi para. Conclusion: The frequency of causes of intrauterine fetal death in patients
presenting to a tertiary care setting shows most of the patients with hypertensive disorders,
unexplained and physical injuries while antiphospholipid syndrome and diabetes mellitus were
found the less common causes.