Maternal death. A review of maternal deaths at one hospital from 1958 to 1978.
A retrospective examination of all maternal deaths at Queen Charlotte's Hospital in the last 20 years shows that general anaesthesia is the greatest single cause of maternal death. This highlights the need for considerable reduction in the inherently dangerous technique of general anaesthesia to patients in labour and, where possible, its replacement by extradural and spinal blocks.
D000328:Adult; D000768:Anesthesia, General / Q000401:mortality*; D000773:Anesthesia, Obstetrical / Q000401:mortality*; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008428:Maternal Mortality; D011247:Pregnancy; D012189:Retrospective Studies