Maternal morbidity and mortality associated with intrauterine fetal demise: Five-year experience in a tertiary referral hospital

Background, Risk factors for and management of intrauterine fetal demise (I UFD) have been investigated, but the maternal morbidity has not been evalua ted. Methods, Over a 60-month interval, all cases of IUFD after 20 weeks' gestat ion were reviewed for maternal trauma and maternal postpartum complications . Results. In this retrospective analysis, 498 singleton and 24 twin pregnanc ies with an IUFD were identified. A cervical or perineal laceration requiri ng surgical repair complicated 9.4% of pregnancies. One uterine dehiscence and one uterine rupture occurred. Endometritis, the most common postpartum complication, occurred in 63 of 522 patients (12%). One maternal death occu rred, Total mean hospital stay was 4.9 +/- 5.7 days. Conclusion. Maternal morbidity and rarely mortality can follow IUFD, but th is morbidity is similar to that observed without IUFD.