Obstetrical Adverse Events

Summary

Obstetrical adverse events that may be suffered by the mother range from perineal tears and hemorrhaging to maternal death. For the infant, examples of adverse events include injuries to the skeleton or spinal cord, and some neonatal intensive care unit admissions. Obstetrical adverse events of some sort currently occur in approximately 9 percent of all U.S. deliveries.

Goal: The Partnership for Patients estimates that 30 percent of obstetrical adverse events are preventable. The goal set for hospitals is to cut the number of these preventable events in half by 2013.