Fetal Death in Utero: Epidemiological Aspect, Etiological and Management at the National Hospital of Pikine

In utero fetal death refers by definition to the spontaneous cessation of fetal cardiac activity at a gestational stage greater than 14 week’s gestation. This termination of pregnancy can occur before labor (antepartum fetal death) or during labor (intrapartum fetal death) [1,2]. This is a common event that causes trauma for parents. Its prevalence differs across the world: 2% worldwide with 0.5% in high-income countries [2-4]. In less countries favored, this prevalence may reach 30 per 1000 births [5,6]. In Senegal the prevalence is estimated at 4.18% [3,7]. The most common causes of fetal death are placental causes followed secondarily by chromosomal, malformative and infectious causes [2]. However the occurrence of fetal death in utero remains unexplained in 12 to 50% of cases according to the series [8,9]. This study, conducted at the National Hospital Pikine, aimed to establish the epidemiological profile of IUFD, identify its etiological factors and to describe the management.

This was a prospective, descriptive study from October 2016 to October 2017 at the National Hospital of Pikine (CHNP). The target population consisted of all patients received CHNP having an IUFD and whose support was made in the structure. Data collection was done using individual questionnaires (survey form) from the hospital records, partographs, the register of births and the register of neonatology. The variables studied were: the age of the parturient, parity, number of antenatal consultations, type of pregnancy, reasons for consultation, gestational age. The paraclinical, the mode of delivery, the management as well as the maternal prognosis and etiological factors were taken into account. The data were received on individual survey forms. The analysis program was achieved through the SPSS Version 23 (Statistical Package for Social Science) for Windows.

Sociodemographic characteristics

Age of patients

The age average of the patients was 28.8 years with extremes of 17 and 51 years. Women between 20 and 30 years were the most represented 55.6%.

Parity

The average rate was 2.2% with a range of 0 and 11. Primiparous were most affected 31.5%.

Clinical aspects

Pregnancy

The pregnancies were singleton in most cases is 94.4% while the twins were 5.6% of cases. The mean for gestational age was 33.3 SA with extremes of 19 and 43 weeks. The portion of 32-36 weeks was the most represented with 33.3% followed by the 37-41 with 27.8% (Table 1). 

Table 1: Distribution of patients according to gestational age.

Antenatal

Only 36.1% of patients had performed more than 4 antenatal visits. The average number of antenatal visits was 3 with a range of 0 to 6. 4.6% of patients did not receive any follow-up. Those who benefited more than 4 antenal visit seem to be less affected with 9.3%. All patients had received iron supplementation. Intermittent preventive treatment was administered in 66.7% of patients. The referred accounted for 73.1% against 26.9% of spontaneous admissions. The references were dominated by vasculo-renal syndromes and complications. The absence of active fetal movement was the most frequent reason for consultation or 68% (Table 2). The Bishop score was assessed in all patients, 72.2% had a score greater than 6. 

Table 2: Distribution of patients according to the reason for consultation.

Paraclinical aspects

Ultrasound

She had been performed in all patients, confirming the diagnosis of fetal death and helping the etiological diagnosis. Hidden etiological factors were dominated by Vascular and Renal Syndromes (SVR) and complications 56.6% (Figure 1).

Figure1: Distribution of patients according to the causative factors.

Biology

The blood count was performed in 81 patients or 75%. Blood typing was performed in 79.6% of patients, all were positive Rh and OO group was the most represented with 50%. Leukocytosis was found in 23% of patients. C-reactive protein was performed in 81 patients, it was positive in 6.1%.

Supported

Labor induction

The labor was spontaneous in 71.3% of cases, 16 patients had received a caesarean immediately, 14.8%. Thirteen patients had a Bishop score less than 6, they had an artificial labor trigger of 13.9%. The trigger was made by prostaglandins including misoprostol, the dose was based on gestational age and the vaginal route was the only one used.

Mode of delivery

The vaginal mode of delivery was the most common 70.4% (Figure 2).

Figure 2: Distribution of patients according to the labor induction method and route of delivery.

Fetal data

Sixty-five of the dead infants were male, 60.2%. They were macerated in 75% of cases, occurring more frequently in the SVR and complications (Figure 3). The average fetal weight was 1920grs with extremes of 100 to 4800grs.

Figure 3: The ratio of induction of labor and mode of delivery.

Maternal age greater than 35 years increases the risk of fetal death in utero intrapartum and antepartum [2]. This was demonstrated in our study. Indeed IUFD coast in over 35 years was 20.4% in our study. We find similar frequencies in several other studies. The risk of fetal death in the over 35 years is mostly associated with chromosomal abnormalities due to an alteration of the intrinsic quality of gametes with time [10]. Primiparity is associated with an increased risk of fetal death of 42%. Indeed primiparas are more vulnerable to certain diseases such as preeclampsia source IUFD. We found a prevalence of 31.5% in primiparous. Our results are similar to those of Diallo et al., Andriamandimbison and Z. However, some studies found a relationship between multiparity and IUFD. Indeed, these are often elderly patients, at risk of pre-eclampsia, diabetes, intrauterine growth retardation, placental abruption or placenta previa behind the IUFD [11,12].

The risk of fetal death in utero decreases with the number of prenatal consultations. Indeed, we found that patients who have more than 4 prenatal visits were less exposed with a frequency of 9.3%. Mohsin had found an increased risk of 1.12 (95% CI 1.01 to 1.26) for patients where the first contact to motherhood was held after the first quarter. Vintzileos et al., showed a risk tripled if the pregnant woman had never consulted during pregnancy [13,14]. The causes of fetal death are many and well codified. Nevertheless, 15 to 50% of them remain unexplained despite a thorough etiological assessment [5,9,15]. We find in our study 50.9% of undetermined causes. This rate, however, could be explained by the insufficiency of our paraclinical data including the absence of placental histology. Among the etiologies found, vasculo-renal syndromes and complications were more frequent at 27.9%. The incidence of fetal death is both higher in hypertensive disease, this risk is increased in case of complications [10]. The IUFD occurring by the gradual or sudden deline in placental perfusion due to the lack of remodeling of the spiral arteries.

The second etiology found was diabetes with a rate of 11.1%. It is a recognized risk factor for fetal death. Its pathophysiology is however complex and appears to be multifactorial. The meta-analysis published in the Lancet by Flenady et al., estimated that the risk of fetal death was three times higher in women with pre-existing diabetes compared to women who did not [16]. Each year about 2194 IUFD may be assigned to it in developed countries. The third group of etiology found in our study was mechanical dystocia. They are not usually cited as a cause of fetal death. However, in the absence of early and appropriate management they can have dramatic consequences, namely an intrapartum death or even a maternal death. We found 5.6% of cases of dystocia. The other etiologies found in our study are, at equal frequency, funicular, malformative, haemorrhagic and abdominal pregnancies.

After IUFD, labor began spontaneously in place within three (3) weeks of the diagnosis in 85% of cases [17,18]. However, this expectation is not without risk. Indeed the prolonged retention can be the cause of disseminated intravascular coagulation due to release of fetal or placental thromboplastin and. It is therefore necessary to conduct an induction of labor to avoid this complication. The latter will be based on several factors namely maternal condition, obstetric history and cervical conditions. 71.3% of patients were entered spontaneously into labor and a trigger was performed in 13.9%. Misoprostol is a synthetic prostaglandin, similar to natural PGE1, it is used in the induction of labor especially in cases of fetal death and whatever the age of the pregnancy. Several routes of administration are possible, but the vaginal is the most common. All our trips were made by vaginally every 6 hours and doses were administered according to gestational age. It is proved that the vaginal administration reduces the induction-expulsion period and the rate of patients who have not given birth within the first 24 hours of release [17]. 70.4% of the patients who had started had delivered vaginally (Figure 2), rate close to that found in the study of Abediasl et al., [19].

The causes of IUFD are multiple, often multifactorial, dominated by vasculorenal syndromes and complications. Their supported go through an early and regular monitoring of at risk pregnancies. The unexplained causes are still important especially in our regions, hence the importance of performing an exhaustive etiological assessment including autopsy and placental histology. Treatment involves rapid evacuation of the uterine contents. The route of delivery will depend on maternal status and cervical conditions.