Maternal and neonatal complications of shoulder dystocia with a focus on obstetric maneuvers: A case-control study of 1103 deliveries.

INTRODUCTION

Shoulder dystocia is a severe obstetric emergency that can cause substantial neonatal and maternal complications. This study aims to assess the performed obstetric maneuvers and their frequency, success, and association with maternal and neonatal complication rates.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The study population was collected among all deliveries in the Hospital District of Helsinki and Uusimaa between 2006 and 2015 (n = 181 352) by searching for ICD-10 codes for shoulder dystocia, brachial plexus injury and clavicle fracture. Shoulder dystocia cases (n = 537) were identified by reviewing the medical records. Shoulder dystocia cases treated with one or two maneuvers were compared with those treated with at least three. Medical records of a matched control group constituting of 566 parturients without any of the forementioned ICD-10 codes were also scrutinized.

RESULTS

Using the four most common obstetric maneuvers (McRoberts maneuver, suprapubic pressure, rotational maneuvers, the delivery of the posterior arm) significantly increased during the study period with individual success rates of 61.0%, 71.9%, 68.1% and 84.8%, respectively. Concurrently, the rate of brachial plexus injury and combined neonatal morbidity significantly declined from 50% to 24.2% (p = 0.02) and from 91.4% to 48.5% (p < 0.001). Approximately 75% of shoulder dystocia cases treated with maneuvers were resolved by the McRoberts maneuver and/or suprapubic pressure, but each of the four most performed maneuvers significantly increased the cumulative success rate individually and statistically (p < 0.001). The rates of brachial plexus injury and combined neonatal morbidity were at their highest (52.9% and 97.8%) when none of the maneuvers were performed and at their lowest when two maneuvers were performed (43.0% and 65.4%). The increasing number (≥3) of maneuvers did not affect the combined maternal or neonatal morbidity or brachial plexus injury but increased the risk for third- or fourth-degree lacerations (odds ratio 2.91, 95% confidence interval 1.17 to 7.24).

CONCLUSIONS

The increased use of obstetric maneuvers during the study period was associated with decreasing rates of neonatal complications; conversely, the lack of obstetric maneuvers was associated with the highest rate of neonatal complications. These emphasize the importance of education, maneuver training and urgently performing shoulder dystocia maneuvers according to the international protocol guidelines.