What is the definition of shoulder dystocia?

Typically defined as a delivery in which additional maneuvers are required to deliver the fetus after normal gentle downward traction has failed, shoulder dystocia occurs when the fetal anterior shoulder impacts against the maternal symphysis following delivery of the vertex.

What is the dystocia?

“Dystocia” (difficult or obstructed labor)2 encompasses a variety of concepts, ranging from “abnormally” slow dilation of the cervix or descent of the fetus during active labor3 to entrapment of the fetal shoulders after delivery of the head (“shoulder dystocia,” an obstetric emergency).

How do you Recognise shoulder dystocia?

Doctors diagnose shoulder dystocia when they can visualize the baby’s head but the baby’s body can’t be delivered, even after some slight maneuvers. If your doctor sees your baby’s trunk isn’t coming out easily and they have to take certain actions as a result, they’ll diagnose shoulder dystocia.

What is the reported incidence of shoulder dystocia?

Based on a host of retrospective studies, most cited incidences range from 0.5-3% of deliveries. Although few in number, prospective studies examining shoulder dystocia incidence among vaginal deliveries in the United States generally report higher values, from 3.4-7.0%.

Can shoulder dystocia be prevented?

In most instances, shoulder dystocia cannot be prevented because it cannot be predicted. If you have diabetes or have developed diabetes in pregnancy, you will usually be offered early induction of labour or planned caesarean section. This will reduce the risk of shoulder dystocia.

What is the most common cause of dystocia?

Failure of cervical dilation and uterine torsion are the most common causes of dystocia of maternal origin. Failure of cervical dilation is associated with long-term progesterone supplementation during pregnancy.

What is the highest risk factor for shoulder dystocia?

Clinical or ultrasonographic estimation of fetal weight is valuable. Indeed, fetal macrosomia (variously defined) is the strongest risk factor for shoulder dystocia and BPI in both diabetic and nondiabetic pregnancies (Box 1) [47,48].

Which patient is at the highest risk for shoulder dystocia?

Risk factors for shoulder dystocia include:

• Macrosomia.
• Having preexisting diabetes or gestational diabetes.
• Having shoulder dystocia in a previous pregnancy.
• Being pregnant twins, triples or other multiples.
• Being overweight or gaining too much weight during pregnancy.

How long is a shoulder dystocia?

In order to objectively define SD, Spong and colleagues (5) proposed defining shoulder dystocia as a ʻʻprolonged head-to-body delivery time (eg, more than 60 seconds) and/or the necessitated use of ancillary obstetric maneuversʼʼ.

What does ACOG stand for in shoulder dystocia?

According to ACOG, shoulder dystocia is an obstetric emergency that places both the woman and the fetus at risk of injury.

What do you need to know about shoulder dystocia?

By reading this page you agree to ACOG’s Terms and Conditions. Read terms ABSTRACT: Shoulder dystocia is an unpredictable and unpreventable obstetric emergency that places the pregnant woman and fetus at risk of injury.

When did the ACOG report on dystocia come out?

The complete guideline, ACOG Practice Bulletin no. 49, appeared in the December 2003 issue of Obstetrics and Gynecology. The report provides a review of the definition of dystocia, the risk factors associated with dystocia, the criteria that require delivery, and the approaches to clinical management of labor complicated by dystocia.

Who is at risk for shoulder dystocia during pregnancy?

ABSTRACT: Shoulder dystocia is an unpredictable and unpreventable obstetric emergency that places the pregnant woman and fetus at risk of injury. Studies have shown that prepregnancy, antepartum, and intrapartum risk factors have extremely poor predictive value for shoulder dystocia.