Shoulder Dystocia and Simulation

Simulation in a medical setting is an opportunity to learn new skills, in demanding circumstances, without exposing patients to risks. Training projects on the management of obstetric emergencies using simulations have shown to improve and increase confidence in the management of emergency situations. Furthermore, local training also seemed to facilitate self-directed infrastructural change. In this chapter we focus mainly on shoulder dystocia, especially through an explanatory video of some recommended maneuvers in case of shoulder dystocia. This video show the utility of a mannequin used for simulation. Because of the potential for litigation from injury from shoulder dystocia, simulation may be used to train not only the correct management of shoulder dystocia but also the correct documentation to be filled in the event of this emergency. Simulation, if well conducted, can profoundly modify the understanding of the cognitive mechanisms that lead human beings to perform incorrect actions.