Medical retrieval of pregnant women in labour: A scoping review

Abstract

Background: Remote Australian women in labour often rely on retrieval services to allow birthing in specialist obstetric centres. However, there is currently debate over when not to transfer a woman in labour, for risk of an in-transit birth, associated with worse neonatal outcomes.

Methods: A scoping review methodology was undertaken, to define the scope of published literature on the topic and identify gaps in the current knowledge.

Results: A total of seven full texts were deemed suitable for synthesis, which were all retrospective observational studies. Four themes from the studies' findings were identified: population features, predicting time-to-birth, use of tocolysis and birth during medical evacuation.

Conclusion: The evidence identified in this review was of low methodological quality and heterogenous. The key findings were that births in-flight are rare, despite geographical distances and long transport times, with a knowledge gap on predictors of time-to-birth.

Keywords: Ambulances; Emergency medical services; Midwifery; Obstetric labour; Rural health services.