title: Assessment of an urgency classification for assisted vaginal delivery.
abstract: We performed a prospective observational audit to evaluate the application of the Lucas caesarean section urgency classification to assisted vaginal delivery in the operating theatre. We collected data from 400 women having category 1-3 delivery in the operating theatre. Twenty percent of the caesarean sections and 4% of the vaginal deliveries were category 1. The median (IQR) decision-delivery interval was 25 (19.5-37) min for category 1 caesarean section and 19.5 (15-29) min for category 1 vaginal delivery, and 43.5 (36-57) min and 45 (32-57) for category 2 caesarean section and vaginal delivery, respectively. Sixty-three percent of category 1 caesarean section and 75% of category 1 vaginal delivery were performed in ≤30 min. Antenatal or intrapartum risk factors were present before the decision for delivery in 82% of caesarean sections and 80% of vaginal deliveries. The application of the Lucas urgency classification to assisted vaginal delivery merits further evaluation.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Anaesthesia , University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust , Bristol , UK.
authors.forename: Rebecca Anna
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Leslie
authors.affiliation: b Department of Anaesthesia , St Michael's Hospital , Bristol , UK.
authors.forename: Stephen Michael
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Kinsella
authors.affiliation: a Department of Anaesthesia , University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust , Bristol , UK.
authors.forename: Jeremy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Astin
authors.affiliation: c Department of Anaesthesia , Royal United Hospital Bath NHS Trust , Bath , UK.
authors.forename: Jennifer Patricia
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Tuckey
mesh_terms: D002585:Cesarean Section / Q000145:classification*; D004630:Emergencies / Q000145:classification*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007744:Obstetric Labor Complications / Q000145:classification*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: Caesarean section; anaesthesia obstetric; assisted vaginal delivery; medical labour ward round; urgency classification