Medical retrieval of pregnant women in labour: A scoping review

Abstract

Background: Remote Australian women in labour often rely on retrieval services to allow birthing in specialist obstetric centres. However, there is currently debate over when not to transfer a woman in labour, for risk of an in-transit birth, associated with worse neonatal outcomes. Methods: A scoping review methodology was undertaken, to define the scope of published literature on the topic and identify gaps in the current knowledge. Results: A total of seven full texts were deemed suitable for synthesis, which were all retrospective observational studies. Four themes from the studies’ findings were identified: population features, predicting time-to-birth, use of tocolysis and birth during medical evacuation. Conclusion: The evidence identified in this review was of low methodological quality and heterogenous. The key findings were that births in-flight are rare, despite geographical distances and long transport times, with a knowledge gap on predictors of time-to-birth.

Document Type

Journal Article

Date of Publication

6-1-2023

Volume

26

Issue

2

PubMed ID

36335020

Publication Title

Australasian Emergency Care

Publisher

Elsevier

School

School of Nursing and Midwifery

RAS ID

54209

Comments

McInnes, J., Honan, B., Johnson, R., Durup, C., Venkatesh, A., Gardiner, F. W., . . . Spring, B. (2023). Medical retrieval of pregnant women in labour: A scoping review. Australasian Emergency Care, 26, 158-163. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.auec.2022.10.002

Copyright

subscription content

First Page

158

Last Page

163

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Link to publisher version (DOI)

10.1016/j.auec.2022.10.002