Air medical retrieval of central Australian women in labor: A retrospective observational study
Document Type
Journal Article
Publication Title
Air Medical Journal
PubMed ID
38154836
Publisher
Elsevier
School
School of Nursing and Midwifery
RAS ID
62383
Abstract
Objective: The aim of this study was to describe the characteristics and outcomes of remote-dwelling pregnant women with threatened labor referred for air medical retrieval to a regional birthing center as well as factors associated with birth within 48 hours. Methods: This was a retrospective observational study of all pregnant women in the remote Central Australian region referred to the Medical Retrieval Consultation and Coordination Centre for labor > 23 weeks’ gestation between February 12, 2018, and February 12, 2020. Univariate and multivariate statistical analyses were performed. Results: There were 116 women referred for retrieval for labor. There were no births during transport, and less than half of the cases resulted in birth within 48 hours of retrieval. Tocolysis was frequently used. Predictors of birth within 48 hours were cervical dilatation ≥ 5 cm, preterm gestational age, and ruptured membranes in the univariate analysis. Nearly one third of this cohort required intervention or had complications during birth. Conclusion: Birth during transport for threatened labor did not occur in this cohort, and more than half of the retrievals did not result in birth within 48 hours; however, the high risk of birth complications may offset any benefit of avoiding air medical transport from remote regions. Retrieval clinicians should consider urgent transfer in cases of ruptured membranes, cervical dilatation of 5 cm or more, or gestational age less than 37 weeks.
DOI
10.1016/j.amj.2023.09.007
Access Rights
free_to_read
Comments
Honan, B., Spring, B., Gardiner, F. W., Durup, C., Venkatesh, A., McInnes, J., . . . Johnson, R. (2024). Air medical retrieval of central Australian women in labor: A retrospective observational study. Air Medical Journal, 43(1), 28-33. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amj.2023.09.007