7.2 Obstructed labour

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    Active labour which lasts longer than 24 hours, sometimes several days with insurmountable barrier preventing the foetal descent.

    7.2.1 Diagnosis

    • Patient dazed, anxious, agitated, in pain
    • Dehydration and possible hypovolaemic shock
    • Possible distended bladder
    • Imminent uterine rupture (pathological retraction ring, hourglass shape, see Chapter 3, Section 3.3)
    • Frequent amniotic infection (fever, foul-smelling amniotic fluid)

     

    On vaginal examination:

    • Oedema of the cervix.
    • Depending on the presentation:
      • Vertex: caput that may reach the vaginal opening, but vertex itself not engaged and pelvis seems narrow;
      • Breech: retention of aftercoming head;
      • Transverse: neglected shoulder, prolapsed arm and hand.

     

    • Foetus often dead or in life-threatening condition.

    7.2.2 Possible causes

    • Foeto-pelvic disproportion (including malpresentations).
    • Pushing with an incompletely dilated cervix.

    7.2.3 Complications

    • Uterine rupture.
    • Intrauterine infection, septicaemia, peritonitis.
    • Compression injuries to the bladder and rectum, leading to the formation of fistulae.
    • High maternal and foetal mortality.

    7.2.4 Management

    • Insert an IV line (16-18G catheter), fluid resuscitation (Ringer lactate or 0.9% sodium chloride).
    • Insert a Foley catheter, if it is possible without damaging the urethra. Otherwise, insert suprapubic catheter. Relieving the bladder distension is sometimes enough to produce delivery.
    • Depending on the cause of the obstruction and the medical equipment available:
      • The foetus is alive and viable: caesarean section.
      • The foetus is non-viable or if there is no possibility of caesarean section: symphysiotomy, episiotomy and vacuum extraction.
      • The foetus is dead: embryotomy (Chapter 9, Section 9.7).
    • Antibiotherapy for prolonged rupture of membranes or a rupture of unknown duration (Chapter 4, Section 4.9) or for intrauterine infection (Chapter 11, Section 11.4.2).
    • There is a significant risk of postpartum haemorrhage due to uterine atony: if active management of third stage labour fails, quickly perform manual removal of placenta (Chapter 9, Section 9.2) then, administer oxytocin (Haemorrhage due to uterine atony, Table 7.2).
    • Speculum examination: if tissue necrosis, excision under sterile conditions.
    • Perineal and vulvar toilet 2 times daily.

    7.2.5 Prevention/management of vaginal fistulae a Citation a. For more information: Obstetric Fistula - Guiding principles for clinical management and programme development. World Health Organization, Geneva 2006.
    http://whqlibdoc.who.int/publications/2006/9241593679_eng.pdf?ua=1

    • Encourage the patient to drink 4 to 5 litres of water daily.
    • Leave the Foley catheter in place for 14 days, then:
      • If there is no fistula: remove the Foley catheter.
      • If the fistula is ≤ 4 cm diameter, attempt conservative treatment. Leave the Foley catheter in place for at least 4 to 6 weeks to allow fistula to heal. Keep the catheter in place as long as the fistula is not closed and as long as a gradual decrease of its diameter is observed at each weekly inspection.
      • If the fistula is > 4 cm diameter or the conservative treatment fails or the patient has fistula for over 3 months, refer or register the patient for surgical treatment.

     

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