Factors Affecting Emergency Caesarean Section Timing
Author Information
Author(s): Aiste Cerbinskaite, Sarah Malone, Jennifer McDermott, Andrew D. Loughney
Primary Institution: Royal Victoria Infirmary
Hypothesis
What factors influence the decision-to-delivery intervals for emergency caesarean sections?
Conclusion
Midwifery staffing levels and the type of anaesthesia used significantly influence the decision-to-delivery intervals for emergency caesarean sections.
Supporting Evidence
- The ratio of labouring women to midwives significantly affects decision-to-delivery intervals.
- General anaesthesia use shortens the decision-to-delivery interval for grade 1 caesareans.
- 82% of grade 1 caesareans were completed within 30 minutes when 1:1 midwifery care was provided.
Takeaway
If there are enough midwives to help women in labor, babies can be delivered faster during emergency caesarean sections.
Methodology
A 12-month prospective audit of clinical practice on a delivery suite, collecting data on grade 1 and 2 caesareans.
Potential Biases
The findings may not be applicable to smaller obstetric units or different case mixes.
Limitations
The study did not investigate maternal or fetal outcomes and was observational rather than interventional.
Participant Demographics
Women undergoing emergency caesarean sections at a tertiary referral hospital in the UK.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.001
Statistical Significance
p<0.001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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