Common Obstetric Emergencies

Explains the essentials of common obstetric emergencies to facilitate rational decision-making by staff in the labour ward. The work provides an overview of mortality and statistics, considers the pathophysiology of acute pregnancy complications and discusses individual obstetric emergencies.

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The aim of perinatal care is threefold: the health of the mother, the health of the baby and the emotional satisfaction of the mother and her family. The purpose of this book is to explain the essentials of common obstetric emergencies in order to facilitate ratioanal decision-making by staff in the labour ward. The most tragc outcome of obstetric complications in England and Wales is well-documented in the series of Confidential Enquiries into Maternal Deaths. These reports have been cited s pioneering examples of audit to be emulated by other specialties and countries. All those practising obstetrics should be familiar with these reports to which reference is made in most chapters of this book. The first part of this book is an overview of mortality and statistics. The second part considers aspects of the pathophysiology of acute pregnancy complications including shock and coagulopathy. Individual obstetric emergencies are then considered in sequence.