c/section terminology

[lakec4me]

Does anyone know of a resource that standardizes terminology used to classify a c/section? For example - crash, stat, emergent, urgent, etc. Are these terms interchanged at your facility? Do they all fall under the 30 minute decision to incision guideline? Do the RNs, physicians, and anesthesia document as a team so that everyone is using the same terminology or does it matter?

Do you have any type of stat c/s cheat sheet in your documentation that summarizes the event? For example - type called, time called, reason, barriers, etc.

Thanks in advance!

[SmilingBluEyes]

Hi there and welcome!

You need to review your policy and procedures manuals and discuss with your coworkers and the physician as the reasons a c/s is performed. Where I work "crash" is never used as terminology for the reason a c/s is needed. We usually classify them into roughly 3 categories: Planned/elective, Unplanned, Emergency.

Planned elective: whereas a c/s is scheduled due to maternal or fetal factors, such as fetal macrosomia/LGA, (this is controversial I know), repeat in a mom who has previously undergone c/s, diagnosed placenta previa, breech or transverse position that can't be verted, etc. The name describes well what the situation is, the c/s is in no way emergent, but planned ahead of time for specific reasons.

Unplanned : some of these c/s are further broken down into reasoning such as failure to progress, cephalopelvic disproportion, etc. This means likely the woman has labored and stalled for some reason, indicating a need for surgical delivery of her baby.

A possible subcategory: Unplanned urgent, can be indicated in the case whereby a baby is not tolerating labor, and/or maternal issues have made the c/s needed on a more urgent timetable (fetal intolerance to labor comes to mind). Be sure you are clear on why the physician has decided a c/s is necessary in this case, e.g. a diagnosis that he/she charts.

Emergency: ( called "stat" often) account for roughly 1% of all c/s cases.Among indications for such a case would be situations like prolapsed cord, placental abruption, true fetal distress, or severe medical conditions of the mother. Again, the diagnosis made by physician is the reason why. Again, it's critical to be sure of the reason for an emergency c/s.

Being sure you are using standard terms that are consistent is very important. You are right to want to be sure about how you categorize the need/reason for a c/s. Good luck. These are just broad terms to point you in the right direction.

[storksassistant]

We have 3 different catagories for c/s. Elective, ASAP or STAT. When it's called STAT, then we have 30 mins from decision to incision. According to one of our OB's, ACOG says that ASAP are the same as STAT as far as the time limit thing so we may be looking at changing ours. Our OR understands that when it's called ASAP, they have a few more mins to get things ready. Nothing is "life threatening" at that point. Let me also add that I work in a small hospital w/ only a 10 bed LDRP. We don't have an OR available at all times on our unit. The OR crew has to be called in whether it's stat or asap. We do have a sheet that we fill out for asap c/s, but not for stats. Hope this was helpful in some way!