Participants took part in practical workshops and simulated clinical scenarios of shoulder dystocia.
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This educational activity includes training aimed at rapid and sequential action to improve the results in this type of health care.
This week, the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Service of Son Llàtzer University Hospital hosted a course on obstetric emergencies due to shoulder dystocia, haemorrhage, eclampsia, etc., aimed at the team of midwives, residents and specialist doctors in this unit.
The aim of the course, taught by means of clinical simulation, is for participants to acquire the skills to resolve shoulder dystocia and other obstetric emergencies as a team, following the principles of patient safety.
Shoulder dystocia during childbirth is a rare complication in which the baby’s shoulder impinges on the mother’s pubis and prevents or hinders the baby’s exit. Despite its infrequency, it is an emergent complication because, when it occurs, it requires immediate and very precise intervention to avoid adverse consequences, such as temporary or sometimes permanent brachial palsy.
Professionals faced with this complication have only 5 to 7 minutes to resolve it. For this reason, being properly trained and having excellent coordination and communication between the team of professionals attending the birth is fundamental.
Thus, the training has been developed through different methodological strategies, with a first part of training with simulators (mannequins) for the development of skills and the practice of specific extraction manoeuvres and another part developed in a simulated clinical scenario – delivery room – where the importance of coordination and communication between team members has been worked on.
Simulated teaching of shoulder dystocia is the simulation programme in the field of obstetrics that has shown the greatest benefits in maternal and neonatal morbidity. It is recommended to be trained in the routine workplace, as it is the way to discover the aids and barriers that the team may encounter on the day shoulder dystocia is diagnosed. It is for these reasons that this course has been designed in the environment in which these professionals carry out their activities.
The course, organised by the Fundación de Investigación del Hospital Universitario Puerta de Hierro (Madrid) through the Spanish Obstetric Safety Group, was given by Dr. Óscar Martínez, from the Hospital Universitario Puerta de Hierro; Dr. Elena Jiménez, from the Hospital Universitario Son Espases; Dr. Marina Llull, Dr. Catalina Ramón and Dr. Javier Grau, adjuncts of the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Service of the Hospital Universitario Son Llàtzer; Dr. Ángel Crespo, from 061; Beatriz Pérez, midwife of the Hospital Universitario Son Llàtzer; Fátima Céspedes, midwife of the Hospital Universitario Son Espases and Elena Lombo, paediatric nurse of 061.
The course has been very well received by the unit’s professionals, who have highlighted the importance of expanding competencies to deal with unusual complications, but of vital importance when they occur.
This training activity helps to systematise and protocolise actions to reduce variability in clinical practice and improve the quality of care. Thus, it is necessary to repeat these sessions and provide professionals with specific training to keep obstetric skills at the optimum level at all times.