Table 4 Diagnostic criteria used for the definition of severe maternal outcomes (maternal near miss cases and maternal deaths) in the 3100 women with obstetric complications (including abortion-related complications)

ΩClinical criteria

 Cyanosis

442 (14.3)

69 (53.1)

370 (53.2)

0.973

 Breathing rate more than 40 or less than 6 per minute

521 (16.8)

77 (59.2)

440 (63.3)

0.378

 Oliguria poorly or unresponsive to fluids or diuretics

450 (14.8)

62 (47.7)

386 (55.7)

0.093

 Loss of consciousness for up to 12 h

268 (8.7)

51 (39.2)

213 (30.6)

0.050

 Unconscious (coma) with without recordable pulse

164 (5.3)

43 (33.1)

121 (17.4)

<0.001

 Gasping due to low PaO2 or pulmonary edema

140 (4.5)

23 (17.7)

117 (17.8)

0.811

  ^aShock as indicated by very low blood pressure or circulatory collapse

606 (19.6)

72 (55.4)

533 (76.4)

<0.001

  ^aCoagulation disorders evidenced by low platelets, elevated bleeding or clotting time, or bleeding tendency

362 (11.7)

50 (38.5)

310 (44.6)

0.195

 Cerebrovascular accident

17 (0.6)

5 (3.8)

12 (1.7)

0.118

 Paralysis

13 (0.4)

1 (0.8)

12 (1.6)

0.477

ΩLaboratory-based criteria

  ^aBilirubin more than 100 mol/l or more than 6.0 mg/dL

274 (8.8)

44 (33.8)

226 (32.7)

0.792

  ^aThrombocytopenia (less than 100,000)

436 (14.1)

60 (46.2)

373 (53.7)

0.115

 Creatinine more than 300 mol/l or more than 3.5 mg/dL

295 (9.5)

47 (36.2)

245 (35.3)

0.844

 Elevated lactate

272 (8.8)

40 (30.8)

229 (33.0)

0.626

 Low pH less than 7.1

255 (8.3)

31 (24.0)

221 (31.8)

0.071

ΩManagement-based criteria

 Oxygen saturation less than 90 % for more than 60 min

499 (16.1)

71 (54.6)

426 (61.3)

0.153

 Use of vasoactive drug such as ephedrine

204 (6.6)

36 (27.7)

168 (24.2)

0.393

 Dialysis for acute kidney failure

62 (2.0)

13 (10.0)

49 (7.2)

0.242

 Peripartum hysterectomy cardiopulmonary

169 (5.5)

12 (9.2)

81 (11.7)

0.423

 resuscitation

110 (3.6)

96 (73.8)

619 (88.9)

<0.001

  ^aTransfusion more than 4 units of red blood cell concentrate

270 (8.7)

40 (30.8)

225 (32.4)

0.719

  ^aIntubation unrelated to anesthesia

124 (4.1)

32 (24.6)

79 (11.4)

<0.001

 Admission to the HDU or ICU

541 (17.5)

71 (54.6)

464 (66.8)

0.008

  ^aHospitalization longer than 7 days

537 (17.5)

34 (26.1)

496 (71.4)

<0.001

  ^aReturn to operation theatre

67 (2.2)

14 (10.8)

52 (7.4)

0.205

 Referral to a more specialized unit

5 (1.5)

16 (14.0)

27 (3.9)

<0.001

 Major operative non-obstetric surgery

9 (0.3)

2 (1.5)

7 (1.0)

0.592