Table 2.

Criteria and definitions of severe maternal morbidity

Scottish Confidential Audit’s criteria and definition[[27]]
1	Major obstetric haemorrhage
	Estimated blood loss ≥ 2500ml, or transfused 5 or more units of blood or received treatment for coagulopathy
2	Eclampsia
	Seizure associated with antepartum, intrapartum or postpartum symptoms and signs of pre-eclampsia.
3	Renal or liver dysfunction
	Acute onset of biochemical disturbance, urea > 15mmol/l, creatinine > 400mmol/l, AST/ALT > 200u/l.
4	Cardiac arrest
	No detectable major pulse.
5	Pulmonary oedema
	Clinically diagnosed pulmonary oedema associated with acute breathlessness and O2 saturation < 95%, requiring O2, diuretics or ventilation.
6	Acute respiratory dysfunction Requiring intubation or ventilation for > 60 minutes (not including duration of general anaesthetic).
7	Coma Including diabetic coma. Unconscious for > 12 hours.
8	Cerebro-vascular event
	Stroke, cerebral/cerebellar haemorrhage or infarction, subarachnoid haemorrhage, dural venous sinus thrombosis.
9	Status epilepticus
	Unremitting seizures in patient with known epilepsy.
10	Anaphylactic shock
	An allergic reaction resulting in collapse with severe hypotension, difficulty breathing and swelling/rash.
11	Septicaemic shock
	Shock (systolic blood pressure < 80 mm/Hg) in association with infection. No other cause for decreased blood pressure. Pulse of 120 beats/minute or more.
12	Anaesthetic problem
	Aspiration, failed intubation, high spinal or epidural anaesthetic.
13	Massive pulmonary embolism
	Increased respiratory rate (> 20/min), tachycardia, hypotension. Diagnosed as ‘high’ probability on V/Q scan or positive spiral chest CT scan. Treated by heparin, thrombolysis or embolectomy.
14	Intensive care admission/ Coronary care admission
	Unit equipped to ventilate adults. Admission for one of the above problems or for any other reason. Include CCU admissions.
Waterstone et al’s criteria and definition[[18]]
1	Severe pre­eclampsia
	Blood pressure 170/110 mm Hg on two occasions 4 hours apart or > 170/110 mm Hg once plus ≥ 0.3 g in 24 hours proteinuria or ≥ + + on dipstick
	OR
	Diastolic blood pressure > 90 mm Hg plus proteinuria (as above) on one occasion plus one of the following signs/symptoms: Oliguria (< 30 ml/h for 2 hours), Visual disturbances (flashing lights or blurred vision), Epigastric/right upper quadrant pain or tenderness, Thrombocytopenia (< 100x109/l) Pulmonary oedema
2	Eclampsia
	Convulsions during pregnancy or in the first 10 days postpartum together with at least two of the following features within 24 hours after the convulsions: Hypertension (≥ 170/110 mm Hg), Proteinuria (≥ + on random dipstick analysis or ≥ 0.3 g in 24 hours)
	Thrombocytopenia (< 100x109/l), Increased aspartate aminotransferase (≥ 42 U/l)
3	HELLP syndrome
	Haemolysis (abnormal peripheral smear or raised total bilirubin concentration (≥ 20.5 μmol/l)), raised liver enzyme activity (raised aspartate aminotransferase (≥ 70 U/l) or raised γ­glutamyltransferase (≥ 70 U/l), and low platelets (< 100x109/l))
4	Severe haemorrhage
	Estimated blood loss > 1500 ml, peripartum fall in haemoglobin concentration ≥ 40 g/l or acute transfusion of 4 or more units of blood
5	Severe sepsis
	Sepsis is systemic response to infection manifested by two or more of: Temperature > 38°C or < 36°C (unless after prolonged caesarean), Heart rate > 100 beats/minute, Respiratory rate > 20/min or PaCO2 < 32 mmHg, White cell count > 17x109/l or < 4x109/l or > 10% immature forms, Plus bacteraemia (that is, positive blood cultures) or positive swab culture
	Severe sepsis is sepsis associated with one of: Organ dysfunction—for example, acute renal failure, Hypoperfusion—for example, lactic acidosis, oliguria, or acute alteration in mental state, Hypotension—that is, systolic blood pressure < 90 mm Hg or drop of > 40 mm Hg in the absence of other causes of hypotension
6	Uterine rupture
	Acute dehiscence of the uterus leading to the emergency delivery of the infant