Clinical risk management of obstetric anal sphincter injury

Abstract

Perineal injury sustained during childbirth, and more particularly third and fourth degree tears, can have substantial effects on future continence, sexual function and the choice of method of childbirth in the future. The aim of our audit was to see if the use of clinical risk management methods could help improve documentation and clincial outcomes for women who sustained an obstetric anal sphincter injury. A proforma for the management of obstetric anal sphincter injury was introduced to the labour ward. We found that after the introduction of the proforma documentation improved significantly for classification of the type of injury (P , .01), counts of swabs, instuments and sharps (P , .01) and future pregnancy information (P , .05). This audit demonstrates how simple clinical risk managment strategies can help ensure the best standards of care are implemented.