The anaesthetist's contribution to maternal mortality

TLDR: The decline in the total number of anaesthetic deaths during the previous decade has been abruptly reversed, in contrast to the continued overall decline in maternal mortality.

Abstract: Triennially, since 1954, the Ministry of Health has issued a Report concerning maternal deaths which occurred in England and Wales during the previous three years. The current Report on Confidential Enquiries into Maternal Deaths in England and Wales, 1964-66* makes depressing reading for anaesthetists. Virtually alone of the factors associated with maternal deaths, the number applied to anaesthesia was greater in 1964-66 than in 1961-63, and this rise was "proportionally greater than the increase in the number of births during the same period". It was also proportionally greater than the increase in the number of Caesarean sections (approximately 17 per cent). The decline in the total number of anaesthetic deaths during the previous decade has been abruptly reversed, in contrast to the continued overall decline in maternal mortality (table I).