Pearls of wisdom: Practical application of the Pearls series

Scores of ASHRM members have collaborated to produce the Pearls Series, a set of pocket guides on topics of interest for not only risk managers but also administrators, clinicians, and board members. The succinct format facilitates the dissemination of pertinent information to a wide audience. Risk managers should be knowledgeable of the Pearls topics, understand how to develop appropriate metrics, and manage the monitoring and performance improvement aspects that are critical to ensuring successful knowledge transfer.     

Shoulder Dystocia: Risk Factors and Prevention

Failure of the shoulders to deliver after delivery of the head is known as shoulder dystocia. The risk factors associated with its occurrence were examined in women delivering vaginally at Jordan University Hospital. The profile of the patient most likely to present with shoulder dystocia was determined to be a multiparous, obese patient, over 42 weeks' gestation in a pregnancy complicated by preeclampsia or diabetes with an infant weighing 4,500 g or more. Neonatal complications were noted to be high. There was no maternal death but 4 stillborn infants were delivered and 1 died in the immediate neonatal period.