A comparison of obstetric maneuvers for the acute management of shoulder dystocia

Matthew K. Hoffman, Jennifer L. Bailit, D. Ware Branch, Ronald T. Burkman, Paul Van Veldhusien, Li Lu, Michelle A. Kominiarek, Judith U. Hibbard, Helain J. Landy, Shoshana Haberman, Isabelle Wilkins, Victor H Gonzalez Quintero, Kimberly D. Gregory, Christos G. Hatjis, Mildred M. Ramirez, Uma M. Reddy, James Troendle, Jun Zhang

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

88 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objective: To assess the efficacy of obstetric maneuvers for resolving shoulder dystocia and the effect that these maneuvers have on neonatal injury when shoulder dystocia occurs. Methods: Using an electronic database encompassing 206,969 deliveries, we identified all women with a vertex fetus beyond 34 0/7 weeks of gestation who incurred a shoulder dystocia during the process of delivery. Women whose fetuses had a congenital anomaly and women with an antepartum stillbirth were excluded. Medical records of all cases were reviewed by trained abstractors. Cases involving neonatal injury (defined as brachial plexus injury, clavicular or humerus fracture, or hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy or intrapartum neonatal death attributed to the shoulder dystocia) were compared with those without injury. Results: Among 132,098 women who delivered a term cephalic liveborn fetus vaginally, 2,018 incurred a shoulder dystocia (1.5%), and 101 (5.2%) of these incurred a neonatal injury. Delivery of the posterior shoulder was associated with the highest rate of delivery when compared with other maneuvers (84.4% compared with 24.3-72.0% for other maneuvers; P<.005 to P<.001) and similar rates of neonatal injury (8.4% compared with 6.1-14.0%; P=.23 to P=.7). The total number of maneuvers performed significantly correlated with the rate of neonatal injury (P<.001). Conclusion: Delivery of the posterior shoulder should be considered following the McRoberts maneuver and suprapubic pressure in the management of shoulder dystocia. The need for additional maneuvers was associated with higher rates of neonatal injury.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1272-1278
Number of pages7
JournalObstetrics and gynecology
Volume117
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 2011

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Obstetrics and Gynecology

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