Fernandez Hospital
Accepts the Initiative to Display its Caesarean Section Rates
In a recent petition to the Ministry for Child Development, Ms. Subarna Ghosh has collected nearly a lakh of supporters who want to make it mandatory for all doctors and hospitals to declare the percentage of Caesarean delivery rates to patients.
Ms. Ghosh felt that the C section that she personally underwent was "misleading and manipulated and her choice was overridden". According to Ms. Ghosh, to discourage the trend of indiscriminate conducting of C sections, women need to be made aware of C section rates of different hospitals and maternity homes so they can choose their hospital carefully.
Caesarean Section Rates (CSR) have increased exponentially worldwide. India, with its varied levels of maternity services, is also facing an epidemic of CSRs. We, at Fernandez Hospital have tried to maintain an appropriate CSR ratio.
We are a tertiary referral perinatal centre accredited for training postgraduates and post doctoral fellows. While this increases our patient volumes it also brings in a variety of challenges, some of which are:
- Advanced maternal age with medical complications
- Increasing incidence of morbid obesity with co-morbidities
- Assisted reproductive techniques with couples not open to vaginal births
- Maternal request for ‘Muhurtham’ C Section
Our data represents an institutional cohort with a bigger proportion of high risk mothers. People come from varied distances, some from neighbouring states.
We initiated an audit on CSR in 2002 using Robson Classification. This is an ongoing audit where data is displayed in the hospital.
The most common reasons for CSR and our efforts to minimize the rates are :
- Presumed fetal compromise: It is the most common indication for an emergency C section. We have the option of doing a fetal blood sampling, fetal scalp electrode for better monitoring and decisions. Training and certification in fetal monitoring techniques for all doctors working in the Labour Ward is mandatory.
- Failure to progress: This is explained better as a caesarean done when the cervix fails to dilate despite good labour pains. New guidelines from the American College of OBGYN1 have suggested a more conservative approach with reference to definition, (cervix dilated to 6 cm) and intervention that follows. These protocols have been adopted by us.
- VBAC and ECV Option: We offer the option of VBAC (vaginal birth after caesarean section), and ECV (external cephalic version – turning the baby to head-down position) for breech presentation.
- Multifetal pregnancy: Vaginal delivery is becoming rare in twin pregnancies in India. We have the facilities to monitor both babies throughout labour, using FSE (fetal scalp electrode applied on first baby’s scalp), as this is the main concern during labour.
- Induction of labour: Reducing inductions would lead to a reduction of overall caesarean section rates. We have a protocol and definite indications for induction of labour, with a constant watch on the rates, averaging 25% currently.
ROBSON CLASSIFICATION
In 2001, Michael Robson proposed a system that classifies women into 10 groups, based on their obstetric characteristics (parity, previous CS, gestational age, onset of labour, fetal presentation and the number of fetuses). Since the system can be applied prospectively and its categories are totally inclusive and mutually exclusive, every woman that is admitted for delivery can be immediately classified based on these few basic characteristics which are usually routinely collected worldwide in obstetric wards. In 2015, WHO(2) suggested Robson classification to be used worldwide as an audit tool.
ROBSON GROUPING
The litmus test for any hospital would be group 1. This group encompasses the woman with a singleton baby with head down position, uncomplicated pregnancy and who sets into labour spontaneously. Caesarean Section Rate (CSR) in this group is vital as it impacts the woman’s future obstetric career.
Caesarean Section Rates JULY 2018
Caesarean Section Rates JUNE 2018
We were delighted to have a 15% Caesarean Section rate in May 2018 but our joy was short lived as June found us fighting against a rise in Group 1 to an unacceptable high of 26%.
A decision was made to review group 1 C-sections on a daily basis. Each hospital unit will have its individual feedback session. There has been a surge of new entrants into the hospital units calling for reinforcement of hospital policies/culture and skill training in fetal blood sampling.
Caesarean Section Rates MAY 2018
Caesarean Section Rates APRIL 2018
Caesarean Section Rates MARCH 2018
Caesarean Section Rates FEBRUARY 2018
Caesarean Section Rates JANUARY 2018