The impact of a new standard labor protocol on maternal and neonatal outcomes

Purpose To analyze the clinical outcomes following the implementation of a new standard labor procedure. Methods This was a retrospective analysis that included a study group consisting of patients managed based on a new standard labor protocol and a control group comprising patients managed under an old standard labor protocol. The following maternal and perinatal outcomes were compared in the two groups: the indications for a cesarean section and the incidence of cesarean section, postpartum hemorrhage, fetal distress, neonatal asphyxia and pediatric intervention. We also compared the average number of days spent in the hospital, the incidence of medical disputes and hospitalization expenses. Results The cesarean section rates for the study and control groups were 19.29% (401/2079) and 33.53% (753/2246), respectively ( P