RCOG World Congress 2025

Long Latent Phase of Labour – Management and Outcomes

Latent Phase : Time period when woman experience painful contractions associated with cervical dilatation upto 4cm

Prolonged Latent Phase: Woman is not in labour at 3rd vaginal examination.

Need for Audit:

Inappropriate management can lead to

•Prolonged labour

•Increased medical intervention

•Adverse Maternal and Fetal outcome.

Aims and Objectives:

•To find compliance with Hospital guidelines with target of 100%.

•To find adverse outcomes associated with management of such patients.

Audit Standards:

•Documentation of advice given at 36 weeks and every visit.

•Physical assessment after 3rd call in latent phase.

•Medical review at third physical attendance.

•IOL offered at 3rd attendance with latent phase.

Data Collection: It was done over 1 month and was reliant on staff to identify patients who were induced for Long Latent Phase of labour

Results:

•Age: 60 % of women were under 30 years.

•BMI: 100% had a BMI <30

•36 weeks Info: 100% compliance

•Patient who had IOL at 4th visit had Forceps+3B tear+PPH of 1.3L

Conclusion:

Hospital guidelines were followed in 90% cases.

No fetal adverse outcomes noted.

10% cases had deviation and maternal morbidity.

Incomplete data due to lack of standard method to capture it.

Recommendations:

•A separate tab to record Latent phase attendance and discussion.

•Appropriate Documentation of deviation if any.

Appropriate management of Long latent phase of labour and outcomes.