What is Wigglesworth Classification?

Stillbirths+–+Wigglesworth+classification_+consistently+about+two-thirds+are+‘Unexplained’ — Classification system that has been used historically but does not take fetal growth restriction into consideration. Large percentage of stillbirths have been classified as unexplained, therefore difficult to establish a plan of care for subsequent pregnancies.

First of all, let us know about the definition of Perinatal deaths: Perinatal deaths are the stillbirths with a gestation period of 28 weeks or more and live births who survive for less than 7 days (less than 168 hours).

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What is the Wigglesworth classification?

Wigglesworth classification is a pathophysiological approach of classifying deaths.
The Wigglesworth classification helps to derive schemes to understand the causes for, and eventually prevent perinatal mortality.
The Wigglesworth pathophysiological approach to the classification of perinatal deaths is appealing because it is simple, reproducible, and can be used without an autopsy.
Wigglesworth classification is simple and presented in an organized way that the outcomes give distinct indications of significances for prevention and specify the areas of health care establishment utmost destitute of alteration.
Wigglesworth classification put forward the allotted deaths to one of the five categories and was planned so that it possibly will be practical with reservation to cases where autopsy investigation had not been accepted, even though Wigglesworth classification admitted that necropsy/autopsy would certify the most correct categorization.

Importance/use of Wigglesworth classification:

Wigglesworth classification helps to classify the perinatal mortality/ stillbirth into various categories.
Wigglesworth classification helps to create a standard classification system all around the globe.
The classification helps for a detailed and conclusive analysis of a perinatal deaths

Categories of Wigglesworth Classification:

Generally, there are nine categories of Wigglesworth classification. They are:

Category 1:

Congenital defect/ abnormality (lethal or severe)
Only lethal or congenital malformation are include

Category 2:

Inexplicable antepartum fetal death
Maximum late fetal losses are coded

Category 3:

Death from intrapartum “asphyxia”, “anoxia” or “trauma”
This category covers any baby lived but for some devastation occurring through labor

Category 4:

Immaturity
This relates to living birth only

Category 5:

Infection:
This applies where there is a distinct biological indication of infection

Category 6: Other specific causes

Fetal conditions
Neonatal conditions
Pediatric conditions

Category 7:

Accident or non-intrapartum trauma
Definite non-accidental injury is coded

Category 8:

Sudden infant death, cause unknown
Contains all infants whose death cause are unknown

Category 9:

Unclassifiable and it is supposed to be used as the only hope

Limitations of Wigglesworth Classification:

It is specifically used only to classify perinatal mortality causes.
It is applicable only where the autopsy/necropsy investigation is not undertaken.
Difficulties were faced when it was used in one specialized unit and other difficulties were faced by in trying to apply it to a regional study of perinatal mortality with a high autopsy/necropsy rate.