The best young scientist award abstracts presented at the 32nd World Congress on Controversies in Obstetrics, Gynecology & Infertility (COGI), November 21–23, 2024, Lisbon, Portugal
Year: 2024
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Background: This study primarily aims to investigate the relationship between decision-to-delivery interval (DDI) and foetal and maternal outcomes in patients undergoing an emergency caesarean section.A secondary aim was to investigate if any maternal or labour features adversely affected outcomes.Methods: Patients who underwent an emergency caesarean section at 36 + 6 weeks gestation were identified over a 9-month period across two hospitals in New Zealand.The collected data included: maternal characteristics such as age, parity, deprivation index, ethnicity and body mass index (BMI), characteristics of the labour and delivery including induction of labour status, meconium and indication for caesarean and DDI alongside maternal and foetal outcomes including APGARs, need for continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) and special care baby unit (SCBU) admission and estimated blood loss (EBL).We then used a multivariate regression analysis to establish if there was any relation between the data collected and outcomes.Results: Two hundred and forty-six patients underwent an emergency caesarean section within our timeframe.On the multivariate regression analysis, we found no relation between DDI and maternal or foetal outcomes.It did reveal that having a general anaesthetic (GA) was a risk factor for the baby requiring CPAP and a first APGAR of 7. Conclusions: Although aiming for a short DDI is a normal practice in obstetrics, this study does not support a shorter time-to-delivery being a factor when considering foetal outcomes.This agrees with previous research on the subject.The most notable feature of labour which affected foetal outcomes was the use of GA adversely affecting outcomes.GA is utilised primarily to shorten DDI; however, this study has shown that this is detrimental to foetal outcomes.Further work in the form of a multi-centred prospective trial should be done to try to establish why some babies require CPAP and SCBU admission following birth to help guide which babies require urgent delivery and which ones do not.Another interesting discussion point that this study emphasises is the impact on maternal mental health and birthing experience which is being negatively impacted by the onus placed on DDIs.
Author: Ahmed Ghoubara
Language: English
Subfield: Obstetrics and Gynecology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,390
OpenAlex ID: W4404994720