BJOG : an international journal of obstetrics and gynaecology
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Severe maternal morbidity or 'near miss' is a promising indicator to improve quality of obstetric care. ⋯ There is growing interest in the application of the maternal near-miss concept as an adjunct to maternal mortality. However, in the literature published before 2011 there was still important variation in the criteria used to identify maternal near-miss cases. The World Health Organization recently published criteria based on markers of management and of clinical and organ dysfunction which would enable systematic data collection on near miss and development of summary estimates. Comparing the rates over time and across regions, it is clear that different approaches are needed to lower the rates of near miss and that interventions must be developed with the local context in mind.
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The aim of this study was to determine if the individual physical characteristics of the extirpated transformation zone after large loop excision of the transformation zone (LLETZ) might predict the relative risk of adverse obstetric outcome, specifically preterm labour (PTL). ⋯ This study reveals that the thickness and the total volume of the excised transformation zone are associated with an increased risk of PTL. Excisions thicker than 1.2 cm and larger than 6 cm(3) carry a three times greater risk for PTL.