Table 4.

Causes of maternal deaths in Japan (autopsy cases: 2010–2018)

Cause of death	Number of cases
Direct deaths	52
Amniotic fluid embolism (cardiopulmonary collapse type)	15
Amniotic fluid embolism (uterine focused)	18
Cervical and vaginal laceration	2
Uterine rupture	3
Uterine inversion	2
Placental abruption	3
Atonic bleeding	2
Pulmonary embolism	7
Indirect deaths	26
Cerebral stroke	1
Subarachnoid hemorrhage	1
Vertebral artery dissection	2
Aortic dissection	3
Cardiomyopathy	3
Malignant lymphoma	1
Ureteral cancer	1
Hemophagocytic syndrome	1
Systemic lupus erythematosus	1
Right subclavian venous rupture (neurofibromatosis type 1)	1
Chlamydia psittaci infection (parrot disease)	1
Bacterial meningitis	1
Septic shock	1
Group A Streptococcus infection	8
Unknown causes	2