The causes of morbidity and mortality among infants born at term

Previous studies have reported on the pathologic spectrum of perinatal mortality; however, in our opinion, the problems pertaining to the term newborn have not been emphasized sufficiently. We reviewed the autopsies of all term infants up to 2 months of age in a ten-year period (July 1975 to July 1985). These 342 patients comprised 20% of all pediatric autopsies. The patients were grouped according to cause of death in the following categories: congenital anomalies (59%); infection (10%); perinatal injury, including meconium aspiration (9%); maternal-placental problems (11%); and miscellaneous (5%). In 4% of the cases, mainly stillbirths, the cause of death was unclear. Of the congenital anomalies, the cardiovascular system was most affected (57%). Hyaline membrane disease and intraventricular hemorrhage, usually frequent in series involving many preterm patients, were seldom seen. This study emphasizes the different pathologic spectrum of mortality between premature and term newborns.