News
The StationMaster: a device to improve the accuracy of station assessment in labour
Liverpool Women’s NHS Foundation Trust/ University of Liverpool
Dr Andrew Weeks, Senior Lecturer/Honorary Consultant in Obstetrics (University of Liverpool/Liverpool Women’s NHS Foundation Trust), Dr Gillian Murray, Research and Business Services (University of Liverpool) and Dr Tony Rhodes, Department of Engineering (University of Liverpool).
Accurate assessment of the fetal head station (how far the baby’s head has descended through the birth canal) is important in order to diagnose and treat ‘dysfunctional labour’, a condition which commonly results in caesarean section or instrumental vaginal delivery. Traditional assessments relying on digital assessment can be inaccurate and delay the treatment for poor progress, resulting in a difficult delivery.
Alternatively, inaccurate station assessment during planning for operative delivery with forceps or ventouse can result in delivery failure and fetal or maternal trauma.
Tests using manikin models have demonstrated that the StationMaster is an acceptable and accurate method of assessing fetal head descent. Furthermore, doctors and midwives report that it is easy to use. Ethical approval to run a pilot study for use of the StationMaster device for 100 women in normal labour has been obtained.
Image: Dr Andrew Weeks, Senior Lecturer/Honorary Consultant in Obstetrics (University of Liverpool/Liverpool Women’s NHS Foundation Trust)