A clinical classification of the mechanisms of perinatal wastage.

A clinical classification of perinatal morbidity and mortality should be based upon the pathophysiological mechanisms which affect the fetus and newborn infant, resulting in this morbidity and mortality. Each mechanism is a distinctive disturbance which may be regarded as the common pathway for expression of insults to the fetus and newborn infant arising from a wide variety of obstetric abnormalities and specific disease entities. The following classification of mechanisms incorporating the whole spectrum of perinatal problems is proposed: (1) developmental abnormality; (2) immaturity and prematurity; (3) chronic fetal insufficiency; (4) acute fetal insufficiency; (5) newborn respiratory failure; (6) blood group incompatibility; (7) infection, and (8) trauma.