Shoulder dystocia is an acute, usually unanticipated, obstetric emergency, complicating about 1% of vaginal deliveries. Essentially the baby’s head is born but his or her shoulders get stuck in the birth canal. When this happens and isn’t responded to immediately, then the baby’s life is at risk or can suffer permanent brachial plexus injury, or brain damage. These situations require prompt diagnosis and action, mobilizing obstetricians, midwives and paediatricians to prevent serious consequences to mother and baby.

The first workshop was attended by Medical Officers and Midwives from four AKU secondary care centres (Garden, Kharadar, Karimabad and Hyderabad). The second workshop was organised in collaboration with Getz Pharma for candidates outside AKU. The candidates were from Liaquat National Hospital, Civil Hospital Karachi, Sindh Government Hospital Saudabad and other local maternity homes.

The sessions included a short introductory lecture on Shoulder dystocia, followed by training on the performance of manoeuvres on the PROMPT model. The candidates were briefed about the simulation and then immersed in a simulation scenario where they had to work as a team to resolve shoulder dystocia on our new high-fidelity simulator ‘Victoria’. ​