Results:
During February-March 2020, 3,897 women were referred to the ED,
compared to 4,067 in the previous year. Mean duration of treatment until
decision and referral indications did not differ between 2020 and 2019
(207 vs. 220 minutes, p=0.26; urgent referrals: 58.8% vs. 59.2%,
p=0.83). Per-week comparison showed a significant reduction in ED
referrals only in the last week of the period [337 (2020) vs. 515
(2019), p<0.001]. The proportion of women admitted to the
delivery unit in active labor was higher in the last three weeks (39.1%
vs. 28.2%, p=0.005), and the rate of discharge was inversely correlated
(45.8% vs. 56.7%, p=0.01).
Deliveries number and proportions of spontaneous onset of labor, trials
of labor, preterm delivery, post-term deliveries, operative vaginal and
cesarean deliveries did not differ between February-March of 2020 and
2019. In the per-week comparison, the number of deliveries did not
differ between the periods.
Conclusion: With timely preparation and proper management,
high-level routine obstetrical care during the COVID-19 outbreak can be
maintained.
Keywords: COVID-19, infection prevention, emergency department,
delivery, cesarean delivery, neonatal outcome
Funding: no external funding.
Tweetable abstract: High-level routine obstetrical care and
maternal and neonatal outcomes can be preserved during the COVID-19
outbreak.