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Patient safety and adverse events related with obstetric care

  • Maternal-Fetal Medicine
  • Published:
Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

To determine the frequency and distribution of Adverse Events (AE) in obstetrics departments at Spanish hospitals.

Methods

We present a retrospective cohort study including 816 women admitted to the obstetrics departments at 41 hospitals that took part in the National Adverse Effects Study in Spain (ENEAS) and an extension of this study in all hospitals located in two Autonomous Regions. To identify AE, nurses from each participating hospital examined all medical records, and completed a validated screening guide. A team of external reviewers evaluated the medical records of all women who met at least one of the criteria in the screening guide to verify all AE. The main outcome measure was the incidence of AE during hospitalization.

Results

The cumulative incidence of patients with obstetric care-related AE was 3.6 % (95 % CI 2.3–4.8). The most frequent AE were those related with surgical interventions or procedures (59.4 %). None of the AE detected were considered severe. 36.7 % of the AE lengthened the woman’s hospital stay, and 13.3 % led to hospital admission. Additional procedures were needed after 71.9 % of the AE, and additional treatment was needed after 59.4 %. 56.3 % of the AE were considered preventable.

Conclusions

Obstetric care is characterized by generally younger ages among patients, their low frequency of comorbidities and high expectations for successful outcomes of care. However, some factors can increase obstetric risk and favor the appearance of preventable incidents and AE. Systems are needed to detect preventable AE, and measures are needed to reduce risks or attenuate their consequences.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Ministry of Health of Spain.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest in connection with this article.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Microbiology, Preventive Medicine and Public Health, University of Zaragoza, Calle Domingo Miral s/n, 50009, Zaragoza, Spain

    Laura Aibar, María José Rabanaque & Carlos Aibar

  2. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hospital of Santa Barbara, Puertollano (Ciudad Real), Spain

    Laura Aibar

  3. Institute for Health Sciences in Aragón, Aragón, Spain

    María José Rabanaque & Carlos Aibar

  4. Department of Preventive Medicine, Teaching Hospital of Sant Joan dÁlacant, Miguel Hernández University of Elche, Elche, Spain

    Jesús María Aranaz

  5. Department of Public Health, History of Science and Gynaecology, Miguel Hernández University of Elche, Elche, Spain

    Jesús María Aranaz

  6. Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Granada, Granada, Spain

    Juan Mozas

Authors
  1. Laura Aibar
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  2. María José Rabanaque
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  3. Carlos Aibar
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  4. Jesús María Aranaz
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  5. Juan Mozas
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Laura Aibar.

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Aibar, L., Rabanaque, M.J., Aibar, C. et al. Patient safety and adverse events related with obstetric care. Arch Gynecol Obstet 291, 825–830 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-014-3474-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-014-3474-3

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