Netherlands Obstetric Surveillance System (NethOSS)
The Netherlands Obstetric Surveillance System (NethOSS) is a nationwide enhanced surveillance system aimed at monitoring and preventing maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity. NethOSS involves all Dutch maternity units and collaborates closely with the Audit Committee on Maternal Mortality and Morbidity (AMSM), the Dutch Perinatal Registry (Perined), and national professional organizations.
Currently no dedicated website is available
Mission statement
To identify, analyse, and prevent maternal deaths and severe complications during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period, through active case reporting and confidential enquiries.
Aims
Aligned with its mission, NethOSS pursues the following objectives:
- Estimate the maternal mortality ratio (MMR) in the Netherlands and monitor trends over time
- Conduct confidential enquiries into maternal deaths and identify avoidable factors
- Investigate severe maternal morbidity, including peripartum hysterectomy, re-laparotomy, uterine artery embolization, and acute fatty liver of pregnancy
- Facilitate collaboration across hospitals through monthly reporting and audit
- Contribute to international comparisons and improvements via INOSS
- Disseminate findings through training, conferences, and scientific publications
Ongoing studies
- Maternal death surveillance and confidential enquiries
- Peripartum hysterectomy
- Uterine artery embolization due to postpartum haemorrhage
- Re-laparotomy after caesarean section
- Acute fatty liver of pregnancy (AFLP)
Team
Principal Investigator: Kitty Bloemenkamp, University Medical Centre UtrechtOther key members: Timme Schaap, University Medical Centre Utrecht
Joost Zwart, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, the Netherlands
Thomas van den Akker, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden and Athena Institute, VU, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
