1. Maternal and neonatal complications of elective early-term deliveries.
- Author
-
Jensen JR, White WM, and Coddington CC
- Subjects
- Evidence-Based Medicine, Female, Humans, Infant, Newborn, Mothers, Pregnancy, Risk Factors, United States, Delivery, Obstetric adverse effects, Elective Surgical Procedures adverse effects, Obstetric Labor Complications etiology
- Abstract
Approximately 10% to 15% of all deliveries in the United States are performed before 39 completed weeks of gestation without a true medical indication for early delivery, despite long-standing recommendations against this practice. Early-term deliveries are those that occur between 3707 and 3867 weeks. It is now recognized that maternal and neonatal complications have increased for deliveries that occur at early- vs late-term gestation. The reasons for the increase in the rate of elective early-term deliveries are unclear but likely involve both patient and physician factors. Various strategies have been used to increase awareness of the morbidities associated with the practice of elective early-term delivery and to reduce its frequency. Insurers and quality accrediting agencies are increasingly holding hospitals accountable for their rates of elective early-term deliveries, and this pressure will likely continue to lead to widespread change in the practice of obstetrics. The interventions to increase adherence to evidence-based medicine guidelines that are described within this review may also be applicable to other areas of medicine., (Copyright © 2013 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)
- Published
- 2013
- Full Text
- View/download PDF