Publication:

A study to evaluate the causes of stillbirths according to the ReCoDe classification

Background Foetal death or stillbirth is a major obstetrical complication and a devastating experience for the pregnant patients and relatives. Worldwide an estimate of at least 3.2 million stillbirths occurs each year. There are intensified demands on medical, political and epidemiological ground for proper determination and classification of causes of perinatal death. The aim of this study was to test a new classification system- Re. Co. De. Classification (Relevant Condition at Death) for stillbirths to improve our understanding of the main causes and conditions associated with foetal deaths.

Methods This study was a hospital based Prospective study conducted in department of obstetrics and Gynaecology, SZH, Bhopal. The study included 463 women who were admitted with Intra Uterine Foetal Demise. All cases were evaluated and after delivery the stillborn baby, the placenta and cord were examined. The causes were classified according to Re. Co. De. System.

Results The analysis of the new classification system Re. Co. De. Allowed attributable causes to about 90.72% of causes of still births explained where 9.28% were unexplained. The commonest cause was found to be class F4-Toxaemia of pregnancy (13.17%) followed by class A7- IUGR (10.58%), class C1-Abruptio placentae (10.36%), class E3-Obstructed labour (9.8%) and class A1- Lethal congenital malformations (8.42%).

Conclusions The Re. Co. De. Classification system gives us a better understanding of antecedents of stillbirths and the clinical practices, which need to be addressed to reduce perinatal mortality and have a better obstetric result in the next pregnancy.