Dataset Information

Definition, management, and training in impacted fetal head at cesarean birth: a national survey of maternity professionals.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

This study assessed views, understanding and current practices of maternity professionals in relation to impacted fetal head at cesarean birth, with the aim of informing a standardized definition, clinical management approaches and training.

Material and methods

We conducted a survey consultation including the range of maternity professionals who attend emergency cesarean births in the UK. Thiscovery, an online research and development platform, was used to ask closed-ended and free-text questions. Simple descriptive analysis was undertaken for closed-ended responses, and content analysis for categorization and counting of free-text responses. Main outcome measures included the count and percentage of participants selecting predefined options on clinical definition, multi-professional team approach, communication, clinical management and training.

Results

In total, 419 professionals took part, including 144 midwives, 216 obstetricians and 59 other clinicians (eg anesthetists). We found high levels of agreement on the components of an impacted fetal head definition (79% of obstetricians) and the need for use of a multi-professional approach to management (95% of all participants). Over 70% of obstetricians deemed nine techniques acceptable for management of impacted fetal head, but some obstetricians also considered potentially unsafe practices appropriate. Access to professional training in management of impacted fetal head was highly variable, with over 80% of midwives reporting no training in vaginal disimpaction.

Conclusions

These findings demonstrate agreement on the components of a standardized definition for impacted fetal head, and a need and appetite for multi-professional training. These findings can inform a program of work to improve care, including use of structured management algorithms and simulation-based multi-professional training.

SUBMITTER: Cornthwaite K

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10407013 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Definition, management, and training in impacted fetal head at cesarean birth: a national survey of maternity professionals.

Cornthwaite Katie K Hewitt Pauline P van der Scheer Jan W JW Brown Imogen A F IAF Burt Jenni J Dufresne Eliane E Dixon-Woods Mary M Draycott Tim T Bahl Rachna R

Acta obstetricia et gynecologica Scandinavica 20230710 9

<h4>Introduction</h4>This study assessed views, understanding and current practices of maternity professionals in relation to impacted fetal head at cesarean birth, with the aim of informing a standardized definition, clinical management approaches and training.<h4>Material and methods</h4>We conducted a survey consultation including the range of maternity professionals who attend emergency cesarean births in the UK. Thiscovery, an online research and development platform, was used to ask closed ...[more]

PMID: 37430482

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Project description:IntroductionDespite increasing incidence of impacted fetal head at cesarean birth and associated injury, it is unclear which techniques are most effective for prevention and management. A high quality evidence review in accordance with international reporting standards is currently lacking. To address this gap, we aimed to identify, assess, and synthesize studies comparing techniques to prevent or manage impacted fetal head at cesarean birth prior to or at full cervical dilatation.Material and methodsWe searched MEDLINE, Emcare, Embase and Cochrane databases up to 1 January 2023 (PROSPERO: CRD420212750016). Included were randomized controlled trials (any size) and non-randomized comparative studies (n ≥ 30 in each arm) comparing techniques or adjunctive measures to prevent or manage impacted fetal head at cesarean birth. Following screening and data extraction, we assessed risk of bias for individual studies using RoB2 and ROBINS-I, and certainty of evidence using GRADE. We synthesized data using meta-analysis where appropriate, including sensitivity analyses excluding data published in potential predatory journals or at risk of retraction.ResultsWe identified 24 eligible studies (11 randomized and 13 non-randomized) including 3558 women, that compared vaginal disimpaction, reverse breech extraction, the Patwardhan method and/or the Fetal Pillow®. GRADE certainty of evidence was low or very low for all 96 outcomes across seven reported comparisons. Pooled analysis mostly showed no or equivocal differences in outcomes across comparisons of techniques. Although some maternal outcomes suggested differences between techniques (eg risk ratio of 3.41 [95% CI: 2.50-4.66] for uterine incision extension with vaginal disimpaction vs. reverse breech extraction), these were based on unreliable pooled estimates given very low GRADE certainty and, in some cases, additional risk of bias introduced by data published in potential predatory journals or at risk of retraction.ConclusionsThe current weaknesses in the evidence base mean that no firm recommendations can be made about the superiority of any one impacted fetal head technique over another, indicating that high quality training is needed across the range of techniques. Future studies to improve the evidence base are urgently required, using a standard definition of impacted fetal head, agreed maternal and neonatal outcome sets for impacted fetal head, and internationally recommended reporting standards.

Project description:ImportanceApproximately 60% of women develop a uterine niche after a cesarean delivery (CD). A niche is associated with various gynecological symptoms including abnormal uterine bleeding, pain, and infertility, but there is little consensus in the literature on the distinction between the sonographic finding of a niche and the constellation of associated symptoms.ObjectiveTo achieve consensus on defining the clinical condition that constitutes a symptomatic uterine niche and agree upon diagnostic criteria and uniform nomenclature for this condition.Design, setting, and participantsA consensus based modified electronic Delphi (eDelphi) study, with a predefined Rate of Agreement (RoA) of 70% or higher. Experts were selected according to their expertise with niche-related consultations, publications, and participation in expert groups and received online questionnaires between November 2021 and May 2022.Main outcomes and measuresDefinition, nomenclature, symptoms, conditions to exclude, and diagnostic criteria of an illness caused by a symptomatic uterine niche.ResultsIn total, 31 of the 60 invited experts (51.7%) participated, of whom the majority worked in university-affiliated hospitals (28 of 31 [90.3%]), specialized in benign gynecology (20 of 31 [64.5%]), and worked in Europe (24 of 31 [77.4%]). Three rounds were required to achieve consensus on all items. All participants underlined the relevance of a new term for a condition caused by a symptomatic niche and its differentiation from a sonographic finding only. Experts agreed to name this condition cesarean scar disorder, defined as a uterine niche in combination with at least 1 primary or 2 secondary symptoms (RoA, 77.8%). Defined primary symptoms were postmenstrual spotting, pain during uterine bleeding, technical issues with catheter insertion during embryo transfer, and secondary unexplained infertility combined with intrauterine fluid. Secondary symptoms were dyspareunia, abnormal vaginal discharge, chronic pelvic pain, avoiding sexual intercourse, odor associated with abnormal blood loss, secondary unexplained infertility, secondary infertility despite assisted reproductive technology, negative self-image, and discomfort during participation in leisure activities. Consensus was also achieved on certain criteria that should be met and conditions that should be excluded before making the diagnosis.Conclusions and relevanceIn this modified Delphi study, a panel of 31 international niche experts reached consensus for the constellation of symptoms secondary to a uterine niche and named it cesarean scar disorder.

Project description:IntroductionForty years passed between the two most important definitions of primary health care from Alma Alta Conference in 1978 to WHO's definition in 2018. Since then, reforms of healthcare systems, changes in ambulatory sector and COVID 19, have created a need for reinterpretations and redefinition of primary healthcare. The primary objective of the study was to precise the definitions and the representations of primary healthcare by healthcare professionals.MethodsWe conducted a descriptive cross-sectional study using a web-based anonymized questionnaire including opened-ended and closed-ended questions but also "real-life" case-vignettes to assess participant's perception of primary healthcare, from September to December 2020. Five case-vignette, describing situations involving a specific primary health care professional in a particular place for a determined task were selected, before the study, by test/retest method.ResultsA total of 585 healthcare practitioners were included in the study, 29% were general practitioners and 32% were midwives. Amongst proposed healthcare professions, general practitioners (97.6%), nurses (85.3%), midwives (85.2%) and pharmacists (79.3%) were those most associated with primary healthcare. The functions most associated with primary healthcare, with over 90% of approval were "prevention, screening", "education to good health", "orientation in health system". Two case-vignettes strongly emerged as describing a situation of primary healthcare: Midwife/Hospital/Pregnancy (74%) and Pharmacist/Pharmacy/Flu shot (90%). The profession and the modality of practice of the responders lead to diverging answers regarding their primary healthcare representations.ConclusionsPrimary healthcare is an ever-evolving part of the healthcare system, as is its definition. This study explored the perception of primary healthcare by French healthcare practitioners in two complementary ways: oriented way for the important functions and more practical way with the case-vignettes. Understanding their differences of representation, according to their profession and practice offered the authors a first step to a shared and operational version of the primary healthcare definition.

Dataset Information

Definition, management, and training in impacted fetal head at cesarean birth: a national survey of maternity professionals.

Introduction

Material and methods

Results

Conclusions

Publications

Definition, management, and training in impacted fetal head at cesarean birth: a national survey of maternity professionals.

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