Anesthesia-related maternal mortality in Michigan, 1972 to 1984

We reviewed maternal deaths in the state of Michigan occurring from 1972 through 1984. There were 15 maternal deaths in which anesthesia was considered the primary cause and 4 deaths in which anesthesia was a contributory factor. Complications of regional anesthesia were the main cause of death during the early part of the period, whereas the inability to accomplish endotracheal intubation emerged as the principal cause of death in recent years. Eleven of the 15 patients had undergone cesarean section. Obesity was a risk factor in 12 patients, in an equal number of patients the risk factor was the emergent nature of the operation, and hypertensive disease was a risk factor in eight. Thirteen of the 15 deaths occurred in black patients.