Emergency drills in obstetrics: reducing risk of perinatal death or permanent injury

JONAS Healthc Law Ethics Regul. 2007 Jan-Mar;9(1):9-16; quiz 17-8. doi: 10.1097/01.NHL.0000262488.31030.8d.

Abstract

This article describes the need for mock emergency drills in perinatal emergencies such as shoulder dystocia, maternal hemorrhage, and emergency cesarean section. Effective drills are a patient safety initiative to reduce medical errors and adverse events during the antepartum, intrapartum, and postpartum periods. Successful strategies are identified from other fields of practice to improve patient outcomes. Realistic, institutional specific scenarios for mock emergency drills result in improved team behaviors leading to better outcomes for mothers and infants.

MeSH terms

  • Birth Injuries / nursing
  • Cesarean Section / nursing
  • Dystocia / nursing
  • Emergencies
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant Mortality
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Medical Errors / prevention & control
  • Obstetric Labor Complications / nursing*
  • Obstetric Nursing / education*
  • Obstetric Nursing / standards
  • Postpartum Hemorrhage / nursing
  • Pregnancy
  • Resuscitation / nursing