Classification of maternal morbidity and mortality using an organic dysfunction scale

The patient with high-risk pregnancy and organic dysfunction is called “critically ill” or “near miss” by the World Health Organization (WHO), generally requiring an intensive care unit (ICU) to avoid death. The WHO establishes its identification through the maternal severity index (MSI). However, this index and other rating scales only detect very high mortality, and not all categories. In order to fully assess the obstetric patient, taking into account different models, gestational parameters, the spectrum of maternal morbidity and treatment, a new scale is proposed to correctly detect and classify maternal morbidity and mortality.

To classify maternal morbidity and mortality using an organic dysfunction scale.

Diagnostic and prognostic test validation study. Selection of 80 obstetric patients admitted to the ICU, in a period of 1 year. Scale application by 5 phases: scoring system, detection of multi-organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS), validation of diagnostic test compared to MSI; morbidity and mortality classification. Association, reproducibility and validity tests are performed to determine reliability.

2596 observations were made. The tests support detecting MODS (t Student, P < 0.01) and favor the utility of the scale (sensibility 93%, specificity 65%). The correlation coefficient of the scoring system is positive (0.5274), having >12 points (>50%) emits the highest risk.

The new scale adequately detects the MODS and allows an objective classification of the degree of maternal morbidity and mortality.