Symphysiotomy for feto-pelvic disproportion

Postoperative care of symphysiotomy performed for severe shoulder dystocia with fetal demise

Background

Shoulder dystocia is an obstetric emergency which occurs in 0.2-3% of all births ACOG Committee on Practice Bulletins-Obstetrics and The American College of Obstetrician and Gynecologists (2002) . Symphysiotomy is a treatment option reserved primarily for developing countries where mortality rates of Cesarean delivery are 1-2% Monjok et al. (2013) .

Case

A G3P2002 with a history of two prior vaginal deliveries had a term delivery complicated by a severe shoulder dystocia. She underwent emergent symphysiotomy at an outside institution, with delivery of a dead macrosomic infant. She was transferred to our tertiary care center for further care.

Conclusion

Symphysiotomy is rarely performed in the United States. We submit our postoperative management to add to the literature of this rarely performed obstetric intervention.

Précis

Symphysiotomy for severe shoulder dystocia is rarely utilized in the United States. We describe a case of symphysiotomy done for severe shoulder dystocia at an outside institution, and the patient's subsequent care at our institution.