Zero Birth Injury Initiative

Phillip N. Rauk, MDAssociate Professor, Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine,

Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Women’s Health, University of Minnesota Medical School

andMedical Director of the Birthplace at UMMC-Fairview

Hospital

Objectives

• Basic safety improvement strategies• Definition of birth trauma• Brief story from Ascension Health• Bundle science and IHI obstetrics bundles• Impact of shoulder dystocia• Where are we at Fairview?

Why are we doing this?

• Overall goal of the initiative is to reduce birth injury

• UMMC birth injury rate 2007 – 0.03%• Birth injury is devastating to all

involved• “Right thing to do”• Improve patient safety• Improve perinatal outcomes• Reduce medical and nursing errors

Preventable Perinatal Harm and Obstetrical Liability

• Failure to recognize fetal distress/non-reassuring fetal status

• Failure to effect a timely cesarean section• Failure to properly resuscitate a

depressed baby• Inappropriate use of oxytocin/misoprostol• Inappropriate use of vacuum/forceps• Failure to manage shoulder dystocia

Characteristics of a Successful Safety Change

Initiative• High functioning team rather than expert

individuals• Shared mental models• Situational awareness• Common language• Policies and order sets support these

initiative

Strategy to create Highly Reliable Teams within a culture of organizational learning

Stan Davis, MD, FACOG & Kristi K Miller RN, MS

HighReliability

Just Culture™Principles of risk,

Accountability,Behavioral choices,

Drift, and use ofCoaching after errors

TeamSTEPPS™ Define the team,

Curriculum Training& implementation of

Action Plans“ME-YOU-US”

In Situ™ Simulation

Experiential learning& application, test for gaps

In the “real world”

Adverse Outcome Index Measure and Weighting

ScoreIndex Measure ScoreMaternal Death 750Intrapartum and Neonatal Death 400Uterine Rupture 100Maternal Admission to ICU 65Birth Trauma 60Return to OR/L&D 40Admission to NICU 35APGAR <7 25Blood Transfusions 203rd and 4th degree perineal laceration 5

•In-born infants only and diagnosis of

•767.0 Subdural and Cerebral Hemorrhage (due to trauma or to intrapartum anoxia or hypoxia)•767.11 Epicranial subaponeurotic hemorrhage (massive)•767.3 Injuries to skeleton (excludes clavicle)•767.4 Injury to spine and spinal cord•767.5 Facial nerve Injury•767.6 Injury to brachial plexus*•767.7 Other cranial and peripheral nerve injuries

* Not used in AHRQ PSI 17 measure for Birth Trauma Infant

Birth Trauma as defined for the AOI Measure

• Numerator – Discharges among cases meeting the inclusion and exclusion rules for the denominator with ICD-9-CM code for birth trauma in any diagnosis field

•Exclude infants•With any diagnosis code of pre-term infant (denoting birth weight of less than 2,000 grams)•With any diagnosis code of osteogenesis imperfecta (756.51)•With any diagnosis code of injury to brachial plexus (767.6)

AHRQ Patient Safety Indicator (PSI) 17 - Birth Trauma

Birth Trauma as defined by the AHRQ PSI 17

Birth Trauma Infant• 767.0 Subdural and Cerebral Hemorrhage (due to trauma

or to intrapartum anoxia or hypoxia)• 767.11 Epicranial subaponeurotic hemorrhage (massive)• 767.3 Injuries to skeleton (excludes clavicle)• 767.4 Injury to spine and spinal cord• 767.5 Facial Nerve Injury• 767.7 Other cranial and peripheral nerve injuries• 767.8 Other specified birth trauma*

*Not used in AOI Birth Trauma Measure

Story at Ascension Health• Three hospital sites were selected for

implementation of:– Standardized order sets specific to

augmentation and induction of labor– Complete adherence to a IHI induction,

augmentation and operative delivery bundles– Best practices sharing across all disciplines– Effective communication strategies using

SBAR and culture change

Story at Ascension Health

• From February 2004 to June 2006– Bundle compliance achieved the goal of 95%

compliance– Elective inductions before 39 weeks fell to

zero– Operative delivery rate fell from 7.4% to 4.8%– Birth trauma rate fell from 0.2% to 0.03%– Primary cesarean rate remained unchanged

at 22.5%

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Quality Care in Obstetrics Addressing Harm Using Bundles

• The Bundle Science– Individual components supported by evidence

based medicine/professional guidelines– Required to be performed for every patient,

every time– Bundle compliance measured by fulfilling all

parts of the bundle– Focus on system

Bundle Science

• A bundle is a group of evidence-based interventions related to a disease or care process that, when executed together, result in better outcomes than when implemented individually.

• All components of the bundle must be met to achieve the desired better outcome

The Oxytocin Bundles

Augmentation Bundle Documentation of Estimated Fetal Weight

Reassuring Fetal Status

Pelvic Exam prior to the start of Oxytocin

Recognition and management of Hyperstimulation

Elective Induction Bundle

Gestational Age > 39 weeks

Reassuring Fetal Status

Pelvic Exam prior to the start of Oxytocin

Recognition and management of Hyperstimulation

No Elective Inductions at < 39 weeks

No Elective Late-Preterm Infants • RDS• TTN• Pulmonary infection• Unspecified

respiratory failure• Recurrent apnea• Temperature instability• Jaundice that delays

discharge• Bilirubin induced brain

injury

• Hypoglycemia• Rehospitalization for

any cause• Rehospitalization for

neonatal dehydration• Death• Feeding difficulties• Long term behavioral

problems

(Pediatrics, September 2006. 118:1207)

Vacuum Bundle Alternative labor strategies considered Prepared patient

Informed consent discussed and documented High probability of success

EFW, fetal position and station known Maximum application time and number of pop-offs

predetermined Exit strategy available

Cesarean and resuscitation team available

Vacuum Delivery• Incidence of operative vaginal delivery is 10 – 15%• Compared with SVD (SVD vs Vacuum)

– Rate of Death is 1/5000 vs 1/3333– Rate of IVH is 1/1900 vs 1/860– Rate of all injury is 1/216 vs 1/122

• Includes nerve injury, seizure, CNS depression, mechanical ventilation

• Vacuum and Forceps rate of death is 1/1666 and rate of IVH is 1/280.

ACOG 2000

Pop-Offs

• “Pop-offs” are defined as a sudden complete detachment of the vacuum from the head with a rapid loss of pressure from the green zone to zero pressure.

• The number of “pop-offs” correlates with birth trauma, ranging from abrasions to subgaleal hemorrhage

• Generally > 3 increases the risk for birth injury

Maximum Pulls • A pull is defined as use of traction during

each contraction not the number of pulls within each contraction.

• There is no clear definition of the maximum pulls that should be attempted before the procedure is abandoned.

• Most experts feel up to 3-4 pulls is appropriate if progression in descent is noted with each subsequent pull.

• Failure to abandon the procedure when progress has not occurred is associated with an increase in birth trauma

Application Time

• There is limited data on application time• Longer application times are associated

with an increased risk for failure and for neonatal morbidities

• Most experts believe that consistent with other guidelines in the use of vacuum (i.e maximum pulls and progress) that 10 – 20 minutes is appropriate and that failure of any descent after 10 minutes predicts a high rate of failure

Other Considerations

• Poor technique also effects maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality– Improper application both with respect

to placement on the head and station/position

– Lack of training and credentials to perform the procedure

– Use of a rocking motion or rotation– Inattention to number of “pop-offs” and

pulls

Shoulder Dystocia Facts And Strategies

• Most often unpredictable; 0.2 – 3.0% of deliveries

• Most brachial plexus injuries will resolve within a year but you can’t be sure in advance which one’s will.

• Standard of care is to perform correctly when it is encountered. (In Situ Simulations)

• When there are risk factors, it is probably prudent to inform the parents and discuss options. It is also reasonable and acceptable to make a recommendation based on your knowledge and experience.

• Get credit for meeting the standard with appropriate documentation

• Shift to the “management of bad results” mode of care when injury occurs.

What Does ACOG Say?

November, 2002. The following recommendations are based on limited or inconsistent scientific evidence:

• Shoulder Dystocia cannot be predicted or prevented because accurate methods for identifying which fetuses will experience this complication do not exist.

• Elective induction of labor or elective cesarean delivery for all women suspected of carrying a fetus with macrosomia is not appropriate.

What Does ACOG Say? November, 2002. The following recommendations are

based primarily on consensus and expert opinion:

• In patients with a history of shoulder dystocia, EFW, gestational age, maternal glucose intolerance, and the severity of the prior neonatal injury should be evaluated and the risks and benefits of cesarean delivery discussed with the patient.

• Planned cesarean delivery to prevent shoulder dystocia may be considered for suspected fetal macrosomia with estimated fetal weights exceeding 5,000 grams in women without diabetes and 4,500 grams in women with diabetes.

• There is no evidence that any one maneuver is superior to another in releasing an impacted shoulder or reducing the chance of injury. However, performance of the McRoberts maneuver is a reasonable initial approach.

Are We There Yet?

• Induction and Augmentation Bundles– Everyone knows about it but still not at

100%– Problems with EFW

• Operative Vaginal Delivery Bundle– >70% compliance but not integrated into

system practice yet.

• We do have a 70% reduction in birth trauma and 30% reduction in AOI at UMMC-Riverside

Acknowledgements• Becky Gams, R.N., M.S., A.P.N.L., University of Minnesota Medical Center, Fairview • Phillip Rauk, M.D., University of Minnesota Medical Center, Fairview• Samantha Sommerness, R.N., M.S.N., C.N.M., A.P.N.L., Fairview Southdale Hospital • Ann Page, R.N., M.S.N., C.N.M. , University of Minnesota Medical Center, Fairview• Charlie Hirt, M.D., Fairview Southdale Hospital• Kristi Miller, R.N., M.S., Fairview Hospitals, Patient Safety• Stan Davis, M.D., Fairview Hospitals, Patient Safety• Carol Clark, R.N., M.S.N., C.N.P., Fairview Ridges Hospital• Suzin Cho, M.D., Fairview Ridges Hospital• Cass Dennison, R.N., B.S.H.A., Fairview Lakes Medical Center• Ralph Magnusson, M.D., Fairview Lakes Medical Center• Jan Gilmore, R.N.C, M.S,H.A., Fairview Red Wing Medical Center• William Saul, M.D., Fairview Red Wing Medical Center• Char Dekraker, R.N., I.B.C.L.C., Fairview Northland Medical Center• Kathy Abrahamson, M.D., Fairview Northland Medical Center• Tom George, M.D., University of Minnesota Medical Center, Fairview• Ted Thompson M.D., University of Minnesota Medical Center, Fairview• Michelle O’Brien, M.D., University of Minnesota Medical Center, Fairview