[Prolonged and post-term pregnancies: a regional survey of French clinical practices]

OBJECTIVE

To assess professional practices of prolonged and post-term pregnancies in accordance to French guidelines. The secondary outcome was to evaluate neonatal and maternal morbidity during prolonged pregnancy.

METHODS

Descriptive retrospective study was conducted in the 23 maternity hospitals of perinatal network between September and December 2018. The inclusion criterion was a birth term of≥41⁺⁰ weeks of gestation. Primary outcome was conformity to the national guidelines based on 10 items (conformity score≥80%). The secondary outcome was a composite criteria of neonatal morbidity (ventilation, resuscitation and/or Apgar score<7 at 5minutes) and maternal morbidity (obstetrical anal sphincter injury and/or postpartum hemorrhage).

RESULTS

A total of 596 patients were included and the conformity was obtained in 65.3% of cases. Inconsistent criteria were amniotic fluid evaluation by the deepest vertical pocket (46.8%, n=279), and information of patients on prolonged pregnancy management (14.8%, n=88). Adverse perinatal outcome occurred for 40 newborns (6.0%) with shoulder dystocia (OR=5.2; CI 95%: 1.4-19.7) as a principal risk factor. Maternal morbidity outcome occurred in 70 cases (10.6%) primarily with increase in labour duration (OR=1.1 by hour of labour; CI 95%: 1.02-1.24) and prior caesarian section (OR=4.4; CI 95%: 1.8-11.0).

CONCLUSIONS

Management of prolonged and post-term pregnancies matching with the French national guidelines. Points of improvement are amniotic fluid evaluation at term by a single deepest vertical pocket, and the information about induction of labour at term.