Clinical Audit of Normal Labour at Nekhel Central Hospital of North
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The Egyptian Journal of Hospital Medicine (July 2021) Vol. 84, Page 2637-2645 Clinical Audit of Normal Labour at Nekhel Central Hospital of North Sinai Governorate Ahmed Ali Mohammed Nasr, Ayman El Sayed El Ashmawy, Asmaa Zakaria Nabieh Omar Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine - Al-Azhar University (Assiut), Egypt *Corresponding author: Asmaa Zakaria Nabieh Omar, Mobile: (+20) 01003767717, E-Mail: [email protected] ABSTRACT Background: Clinical audit is a quality improvement process that seeks to improve patient care and outcomes through systematic review of care against explicit criteria. Where indicated, changes are implemented, and further monitoring is used to confirm improvement in healthcare delivery. Objective: This study aimed at clinical Auditing of the normal labour in the department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nekhel Central hospital of North Sinai Governorate. Patients and methods: This was a cross-sectional observational study that included 200 pregnant women attending Nekhel Central Hospital for normal vaginal delivery. We compared normal labour management and performance in Nekhel Central Hospital with NICE guidelines. The study was carried out through the period from April 2020 to October 2020. Results: During the first stage of labour, documentation of frequency of contractions was done in 90% women labour according to NICE guidelines. Also, recording pulse, temperature and blood pressure was done in 100% pregnant women. Observation of frequency of passing urine was done in 87.5% women. 75% women underwent a vaginal examination 4 hourly according to NICE guidelines. During the second stage of labour, documentation of frequency of contractions was done for 90.0% women as NICE guidelines. During the third stage of labour, general physical condition and vaginal blood loss were observed in all cases (100%) and this meet NICE guideline. Conclusion: There were missing of important aspects of appropriate care in Nekhel Central Hospital especially those related to appropriateness of care givers-patients interaction, safety and completeness of examinations, and appropriateness of postpartum care. Keywords: Clinical Audit, Normal Labour, Nekhel Central Hospital, North Sinai Governorate. INTRODUCTION first stage of labour is the beginning and longest stage Labour now is easily defined as the act of and to a large extent determines the outcome of the expulsion of the fetus and placenta to the outside world labour process because commonly, a normal first stage is through the vagina (1). Based on current knowledge, followed by a normal 2nd and 3rd stages of labour. labour is characterized by the onset of regular painful Hence in current clinical practice, the management of and palpable uterine contractions of progressively labour virtually equates to the management of the first increasing frequency and intensity. This is associated stage (1). The pain associated with labour is a unique with progressive cervical os dilatation and descent of and complex phenomenon. Whilst typical experiences the leading part till full dilatation and delivery of the of pain tend to be associated with injury or disease, fetus and placenta vaginally with minimal blood loss labour pain emerges during a vital and highly positive and other risks to the mother and baby (2). The event. In fact, as the pain intensity rises, the labour is presence of changes in cervical effacement, dilation, seen to be progressing normally (5). position, consistency, and descent of the presenting “Clinical audit is the process of a quality part are the key indicators in identifying the stages of improvement, which aims to improve the quality of labour. Concomitant with the increased frequency of care provided to patients and their outcomes through contractions, a patient perceives the descent of the regular and systematic revision of the care according fetus into her pelvis as lightening (3). to basic and standardized criteria and the application Although labour is one continuous process, it of needed change”. Reviewing of care included three is artificially divided into 1st, 2nd and 3rd stages of domains “structure, process and outcomes” which are labour as a continuum. The first stage is the beginning selected and evaluated in a systematic way according of the labour process and refers to the dilatation of the to explicit criteria (6). A quality improvement process cervical os from an imaginary zero to 10 cm full that seeks to improve patients’ care and outcomes cervical dilatation. The 2nd stage is the aspect from through systematic review of care against explicit full cervical os dilatation to when the fetus is pushed criteria and the implementation of change. Aspects of through the dilated cervix and the vagina to the outside the structure, processes, and outcomes of care are world. The 3rd stage is the stage from the delivery of selected and systematically evaluated against explicit the baby until when the placenta is fully expelled from criteria. Where indicated, changes are implemented at the uterus through the vagina (4). The process from the an individual, team, or service level and further 1st to the 3rd stage is a continuum without any break. The This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY-SA) license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) 2637 Received: 4/5/2021 Accepted: 30/6/2021 https://ejhm.journals.ekb.eg/ monitoring is used to confirm improvement in Abdominal palpation: Superficial healthcare delivery (7). palpation of the abdomen, and deep This study aimed at clinical auditing of the normal obstetric palpation of the abdomen. labour in the department of Obstetrics and Auscultation of fetal heart sounds. Gynecology, Nekhel Central Hospital of North Sinai 3- Local Examination: Vulvar examination, Governorate. vaginal examination (PV), which was done to assess cervical dilation, cervical PATIENTS AND METHODS effacement, fetal head position, amniotic This was a cross-sectional observational study that membrane status. included 200 pregnant women attending Nekhel Central 4- Investigations: Routine investigations, and Hospital for vaginal delivery. In this study, we collected ultrasound. our data through direct personal-patient contact, direct observation of caregivers, patient interactions and Management: attitudes, and recording of data in special check list sheet Auditing of normal labour consists of: for every patient. The study was conducted through the Assessment of patient in labour from time of period from April 2020 to October 2020. admission till discharge from hospital according to Inclusion Criteria: Patients with full-term labour that NICE guidelines, 2014 that consists of: included all women who were fullfilling the following 1. Evaluation of patient at time of admission when criteria: Age from 18 –40 years, gestational age: patient in labour and cervix ≥ 3 cm. complete 37 weeks gestation-41ws+6 days, and true 2. Intra-Partum management of : labour pain associated with cervical changes, Cervical 1st stage of labour: From 3 cm cervical dilation dilation > 3 cm. till cervix is fully dilated. Exclusion Criteria: Multiple gestations, fetal 2nd stage of labour: Washing the perineum and malformations, complicated pregnancy (hypertension, vulva with antiseptic solution. Emptying of the diabetes. etc...), intrauterine growth restriction or bladder by sterile catheter. Patients are asked to macrosomic fetuses, antepartum hemorrhage or bear down during uterine contractions. Perineum presence of meconium-stained fluid, preterm labour, is supported when the head appears at the vulva. and false labour pain. Mouth and nose of the fetus are cleaned when head is delivered. Inspection of the neck if the cord Ethical consent: is coiled around it and trying to split it. Delivery An approval of the study was obtained from of the shoulders and trunk by gentle traction. The Al- Azhar University Academic and Ethical cord is massaged toward the fetus several times. Committee. Every patient signed an informed 3rd stage of labour: Oxytocin administration written consent for acceptance of the study. This (route and dose). Controlled cord traction. Uterine work was carried out in accordance with The Code massage after delivery of the placenta every 15 of Ethics of the World Medical Association min to keep the uterus contracted. Inspection of (Declaration of Helsinki) for studies involving the placenta, cord and membranes. Examination humans. of the perineum, vulva and vagina. Intervention: We observed 200 cases of normal 3. Post-natal management of mother and labour from the beginning of the patient’s entry until newborn: her leaving. We followed what is done with her and Close monitoring and surveillance during first we measured it according to the NICE Guidelines (8). 6 hours postpartum. Maternal outcomes: maternal morbidity & mortality. Fetal All participants were subjected to the following: outcomes: fetal sex, weight and APGARs. i. History taking: Patient's demographic data, Statistical analysis patient’s menstrual history, patient’s obstetric The collected data were coded, processed and history, relevant family history and present or past analyzed using the SPSS (Statistical Package for medical and surgical histories. Social Sciences) version 22 for Windows® (IBM ii. Physical Examination: SPSS Inc, Chicago, IL, USA). Data were tested for 1- General examination: Blood pressure, normal distribution using the Shapiro Walk test. temperature,