[The development of the perinatal mortality at the university department for women in Innsbruck from 1969 to 1975 (author's transl)].

In a retrospective study the development of the perinatal mortality at the University Hospital for Women in Inssbruck was reviewed. Among a total of 14,839 deliveries, 323 perinatal deaths according to the WHO definition were reviewed. The years from 1969 to 1971 prior to the introduction of intensive monitoring and the years 1972 to 1975 after the introduction of monitoring were compared. The perinatal mortality was reduced from 27.7 per 1000 in 1969 to 13.7 per 1000 in 1975. The decrease was due to intensive monitoring during labour. The Caesarean Section rate rose from 3.17% in 1969 to 8.53% in 1975. The increase was mainly due to fetal indications. Conditions which were of special obstetric interest in the context of intensive antenatal care were especially reviewed. It was surprising the preeclampsia accounted for the same number of perinatal deaths in the second portion of our review as in the first. Prematurity accounted for 60--70% of the perinatal mortality and received the focus of the efforts to reduce the perinatal mortality. The perinatal mortality of infants with a birth weight of less than 2500 grams was reduced from 224.0 per thousand in 1969 to 140.0 per thousand in 1975. This result was obtained by excellent co-operation with the pediatricians. The rate of premature deliveries remained unchanged at between 8 to 9% inspite of all efforts. The possible causes for this phenomenon are discussed. The perinatal mortality was higher in cases who had antenatal care by obstetricians and general practitioners not affiliated with the University Department. The timely referral of high risk cases to a regional perinatal centre is stressed again.