Estimating Obstetric Anaesthesia Workload: Number of Deliveries Compared to Time-Based Workload.

Background: Number of deliveries is utilised to estimate obstetric anaesthesiologist workload; however, this may not reflect true workload. The goal of this analysis was to assess if including type of procedure, time required and length of each shift would better predict clinical workloads.

Methods: We queried the electronic medical records at a high volume, academic centre for 12 consecutive months of maternal deliveries.

Factors associated with non-survival from in-hospital maternal cardiac arrest: An analysis of Get With The Guidelines® (GWTG) data.

Introduction: Maternal mortality has risen in the United States during the 21st century. Factors influencing outcome of maternal cardiac arrest (MCA) remain largely unexplored.

Objective: We sought to further elucidate the factors affecting maternal death from in-hospital (IH) MCA.

Understanding the Heterogeneity of Labor and Delivery Units: Using Design Thinking Methodology to Assess Environmental Factors that Contribute to Safety in Childbirth.

Objective: There is limited research exploring the relationship between design and patient safety outcomes, especially in maternal and neonatal care. We employed design thinking methodology to understand how the design of labor and delivery units impacts safety and identified spaces and systems where improvements are needed.

Study Design: Site visits were conducted at 10 labor and delivery units in California.

Characteristics and outcomes of maternal cardiac arrest: A descriptive analysis of Get with the guidelines data.

Background: Maternal mortality has risen in the United States in the twenty-first century, yet large cohort data of maternal cardiac arrest (MCA) are limited.

Objective: We sought to describe contemporary characteristics and outcomes of in-hospital MCA.

Methods: We queried the American Heart Association's Get with the Guidelines Resuscitation voluntary registry from 2000 to 2016 to identify cases of maternal cardiac arrest.

Opportunities to Foster Efficient Communication in Labor and Delivery Using Simulation.

 Communication errors are an important contributing factor in adverse outcomes in labor and delivery (L&D) units. The objective of this study was to identify common lapses in verbal communication using simulated obstetrical scenarios and propose alternative formats for communication.  Health care professionals in L&D participated in three simulated clinical scenarios.

Transport decreases the quality of cardiopulmonary resuscitation during simulated maternal cardiac arrest.

Background: The purpose of this study was to compare cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) for simulated maternal cardiac arrest rendered during transport to the operating room with that rendered while stationary in the labor room. We hypothesized that the quality of CPR would deteriorate during transport.

Methods: Twenty-six teams composed of 2 providers (obstetricians, nurses, or anesthesiologists) were randomized to perform CPR on the Laerdal Resusci Anne SkillReporter™ mannequin during transport or while stationary.

The case for OBLS: a simulation-based obstetric life support program.

Errors by health care professionals result in significant patient morbidity and mortality, and the labor and delivery ward is one of the highest risk areas in the hospital. Parturients today are of higher acuity than anytime previously, and maternal mortality is increasing. Obstetrical staff must therefore be familiar with emergency protocols geared to the maternal-fetal dyad.

Deficits in the provision of cardiopulmonary resuscitation during simulated obstetric crises.

Objective: Previous work suggests the potential for suboptimal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in the parturient but did not directly assess actual performance.

Study Design: We evaluated 18 videotaped simulations of maternal amniotic fluid embolus and resultant cardiac arrest. A checklist containing 10 current American Heart Association recommendations for advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) in obstetric patients was utilized.

Intraoperative forced air-warming during cesarean delivery under spinal anesthesia does not prevent maternal hypothermia.

Background: Prewarming and intraoperative warming with forced air-warming systems prevent perioperative hypothermia and shivering in patients undergoing elective cesarean delivery with epidural anesthesia. We tested the hypothesis that intraoperative lower body forced air-warming prevents hypothermia in patients undergoing elective cesarean delivery with spinal anesthesia.

Methods: Thirty healthy patients undergoing cesarean delivery with spinal anesthesia were randomly assigned to forced air-warming or control groups (identical cover applied with forced air-warming unit switched off).

Patient preferences for anesthesia outcomes associated with cesarean delivery.

Unlabelled: When deciding on neuraxial medication (e.g., spinal opioids) for cesarean delivery (CS) under regional anesthesia, anesthesiologists make treatment decisions that "trade off" relieving pain with the potential for increased risk of side effects.