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Hospital Harm: Obstetric Trauma

Lacerations are common after vaginal birth. Trauma can occur on the cervix, vagina, and vulva, including the labial, periclitoral, and periurethral regions, and the perineum (American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), 2018). A woman's safety during childbirth can be assessed by looking at potentially avoidable tearing of the perineum (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), 2019) and other obstetrical injuries to the pelvic organs during vaginal deliveries. While it is not possible to prevent these types of tears in all cases, they can be reduced by appropriate labour management and high-quality obstetric care (OECD, 2019).

Topics
  • Patient safety
  • Hospital harm
Audience
  • Point of care provider

  • Quality or safety improvement lead

  • Policy advisor or analyst

Goal

Reduce the incidence of obstetric trauma captured in this clinical group.

Overview

Healthcare Excellence Canada has developed this Hospital Harm Improvement Resource – a compilation of resources to support patient safety and improvement efforts.

Obstetric anal sphincter injuries (also known as Obstetric Anal Sphincter Injury - OASI)

Perineal trauma occurs either spontaneously with vaginal delivery or secondarily as an extension to an episiotomy. Severe perineal trauma can involve damage to the anal sphincters and anal mucosa. Obstetric anal sphincter injuries (OASIS) refers to third- and fourth-degree perineal tears. Third degree tears involve a partial or complete disruption of the anal sphincter complex which includes the external anal sphincter and the internal anal sphincter. Fourth degree tears involve disruption of the anal mucosa in addition to division of the anal sphincter complex (Aasheim et al., 2017; Harvey & Pierce, 2015). The table below lists the classification of OASIS from first to fourth degree.

The list below lists the classification of OASIS from first to fourth degree:

  • First degree: Injury to perineal skin only

  • Second degree: Injury to perineum involving perineal muscles but not involving the anal sphincter

  • Third degree: Injury to perineum involving the anal sphincter complex:

    • 3a: Less than 50% of external anal sphincter (EAS) thickness torn

    • 3b: More than 50% of EAS thickness torn

    • 3c: Both EAS and internal anal sphincter (IAS) torn

  • Fourth degree: Injury to perineum involving the anal sphincter complex (EAS and IAS) and anal epithelium

Importance to Patients and Families

In Canada, there are approximately to 380,000 births each year (Statistics Canada, n.d.). Although many births may appear to be 'normal' and uneventful, data portray a different scenario. According to data from the OECD, of the 23 reporting countries in 2017, Canada had the highest reported rate of obstetric trauma for both vaginal delivers with and without instruments (OECD, 2019).

Obstetric trauma is among the most common adverse events in Canada. Obstetric trauma, including third degree and greater lacerations which may result in longer lengths of stay for mothers, as well as chronic complications such as fecal incontinence, dyspareunia, perineal pain and other pelvic floor disorders (CIHI, n.d.). The immediate and long term psychological and physical impact of these complications on the mother and family are difficult to calculate. Many of the adverse events that occur are the result of system failures, rather than individual failures. It is now known that by creating a more reliable system of care we will be able to prevent, mitigate, and identify opportunities to prevent harm (Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI), 2012). 

Patient Story

Here are videos of three women who have anonymously spoken out about their experience of suffering from the effects of an OASIS (RCOG, n.d.).

Clinical and System Reviews, Incident Analyses

Given the broad range of potential causes of complications from obstetric trauma, in addition to recommendations listed above, we recommend conducting clinical and system reviews to identify latent causes and determine appropriate recommendations.

Occurrences of harm are often complex with many contributing factors. Organizations need to:

  1. Measure and monitor the types and frequency of these occurrences.

  2. Use appropriate analytical methods to understand the contributing factors.

  3. Identify and implement solutions or interventions that are designed to prevent recurrence and reduce risk of harm.

  4. Have mechanisms in place to mitigate consequences of harm when it occurs.

Measures

Vital to quality improvement is measurement, and this applies specifically to implementation of interventions. The chosen measures will help to determine whether an impact is being made (primary outcome), whether the intervention is actually being carried out (process measures), and whether any unintended consequences ensue (balancing measures). In selecting your measures, consider the following:

You may use different measures or modify the measures described below to make them more appropriate and/or useful to your particular setting. However, be aware that modifying measures may limit the comparability of your results to others.

Evaluate your choice of measures in terms of the usefulness of the final results and the resources required to obtain them; try to maximize the former while minimizing the latter.

Whenever possible, use measures you are already collecting for other programs.

Try to include both process and outcome measures in your measurement scheme.

Discharge Abstract Database

Success Stories

Managing Obstetrical Risk Efficiently (MOREOB) in Northern Health

British Columbia Patient Safety & Quality Council-Quality Award Winner (2009)

The MOREOB program launched in 2006, is a comprehensive patient safety, professional development and performance improvement program for hospital caregivers and administrators providing obstetrical care in Northern Health.

Over the past four years, health care providers and administrators working in obstetrics have come together as a cohesive team with a shared passion and goal for putting patient safety first. Ninety-three per cent of Northern Health obstetrical healthcare providers (including physicians, midwives, nurses and administrators) are participating in the program. Evaluation of the program has found a growth in leadership capacity with safe patient care at the core. Activities within the program include environmental scans, patient satisfaction surveys, staying current with new evidence and best practices, participating in workshops, and competency drills. The program structure is based on proven principles of High Reliability Organizations, including:

  1. Patient safety is the priority and everyone's responsibility.

  2. Communication is highly valued.

  3. Operations are a team effort.

  4. Hierarchy disappears in an emergency.

  5. Emergencies are rehearsed.

Reviews with all types of health care providers are routinely held. The MOREOB program's Annual Cultural Assessment for 2009 revealed that the participants had an improved sense of work culture, including: open communication with respect to patients and general knowledge; valuing each other's knowledge-base and skills sets; and an improved sense of teamwork. An improvement in staff retention and recruitment has been seen in all sectors.

Statistical information from the B.C. Perinatal Health Program database shows improved statistics on the number of: labour inductions, mothers who received an epidural, intermittently listening to the unborn baby's heart during labour (auscultation), number of Caesarean-section deliveries, and newborns with cord blood gases after delivery.

Changes and efforts that were made to achieve these outcomes and spread the initiative included the following:

  • promoting the annual program components of the MOREOB program for all participants;

  • monthly regional obstetrical rounds via videoconference;

  • development of a Regional Perinatal Council, including quality;

  • practice working groups;

  • growing communities of practice;

  • design of a template to support Council development for other disciplines, such as critical care, emergency care and long-term care; and

  • annual planning conference for core team leaders. (BC Patient Safety & Quality Council, 2009)

References

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