Maternal morbidity associated with obstetrical maneuvers in shoulder dystocia

To determine whether shoulder dystocia and obstetrical maneuvers used for its relief have detrimental effects on perineum or immediate postpartum outcome.

Case-control study.

Tertiary maternity ward in Marseille, France.

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.

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.

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.

Shoulder dystocia and obstetrical techniques used for its relief did not result in adverse maternal outcome.