Maternal morbidity associated with obstetrical maneuvers in shoulder dystocia.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether shoulder dystocia and obstetrical maneuvers used for its relief have detrimental effects on perineum or immediate postpartum outcome.


METHODS
Case-control study.


METHODS
Tertiary maternity ward in Marseille, France.


METHODS
A total 140 cases with shoulder dystocia and 280 controls without shoulder dystocia were enrolled by reviewing charts for the period between January 1999 and December 2004.


METHODS
Demographic data including obstetrical history, age, height, weight before pregnancy and at the time of delivery, and respective body mass index (BMI) and obstetrical data including analgesic technique, duration of first and second stage of labor were compared in function of outcome and of the type and number of maneuvers used to relieve shoulder dystocia.


RESULTS
Resolving shoulder dystocia required one obstetrical maneuver in 41 cases (29.3%) and two obstetrical maneuvers in 48 cases (34.3%). Third-degree tears occurred in one patient in the case group versus five in the control group. No correlation was found between the number of obstetrical maneuvers needed to relieve shoulder dystocia and risk for third-degree tear (OR: 0.8; 95% CI: 0.1-7.6). Mean hemoglobin values were 96.1 g/l in the case group and 96.0 g/l in the control group (p=0.95). There was no difference between the two groups regarding duration of postpartum hospitalization. The incidence of urinary incontinence was similar in the group that underwent obstetrical maneuvers: 4.7% (6/127) and in the control group: 3.7% (13/352). Only two patients reported de novo anal symptoms, both in the control group.


CONCLUSIONS
Shoulder dystocia and obstetrical techniques used for its relief did not result in adverse maternal outcome.
Mazouni
Chafika
C
Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Marseille Public Hospital System (APHM), Marseille, France. Chafika.Mazouni@mail.ap-hm.fr
Menard
Jean-Pierre
JP
Porcu
Géraldine
G
Cohen-Solal
Emmanuelle
E
Heckenroth
Hélène
H
Gamerre
Marc
M
Bretelle
Florence
F
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004420:Dystocia / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005320:Fetal Macrosomia / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D009017:Morbidity; D010502:Perineum / Q000293:injuries*; D049590:Postpartum Period / Q000502:physiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014710:Version, Fetal / Q000009:adverse effects*