Introduction to the Quick Reference Handbook for Obstetric Emergencies (Obs QRH)

From time to time, individual QRH guidelines will be updated. You must replace these in your copy to ensure your QRH is up to date. You can check which edition you have by looking at the Contents page.

July 2024 edition - v1.2

If the Contents page says July 2024 this is the latest version. To update from the February 2024 edition to the July 2024 edition you'll need to replace the following pages:

• Cover page (updated footer)
• Contents page (updated to July 2024 editions; contains updated guidlines version number)
• 2-3 Altered mental status - changes to fix typos in Box C
• 2-8 Local anesthetic toxicity - change to fix typo in Box B > ionotropic to inotropic

Previous version: February 2024 launch - v.1

If the Content page says February 2024 this was the launch edition. All guidelines were ‘v.1.

The Obs QRH is not a substitute for learning and practicing clinical skills. Nor is it a substitute for being familiar with more detailed guidelines and algorithms, such as those for managing obstetric cardiac arrest or newborn resuscitation.

It's essential that clinicians learn about these and practice their implementation elsewhere. For example, it's expected that in using the Obs QRH guideline for managing cardiac arrest, clinicians will already have underlying knowledge of conditions causing cardiac arrest and will be competent in providing advanced life support.

The Obs QRH is also not intended to be used as a rule book every single time one of the guideline situations is encountered. For instance, controlling a postpartum haemorrhage can often be achieved rapidly, using simple measures. The postpartum haemorrhage guideline becomes useful if the situation is out of the ordinary or becomes unremitting. Conversely, for the more immediate and uncommon problems, such as obstetric cardiac arrest, the guidelines should be used from the outset to help avoid missing out useful steps in resolving the situation.

The guidelines in the Obs QRH are not intended to be standards of medical care. The ultimate judgement about a particular clinical procedure or treatment plan must be made by the clinician in light of the clinical data presented and the diagnostic and treatment options available.

For more information on the Obs QRH and how to use them in a crisis read Finding your way around the Obs QRH. If you intend to introduce the Obs QRH in your unit, you should read and follow the implementation guide. We also recommend joining the Emergency Manuals Implementation Collaborative for online community-based support in implementation.

You can download the 'as is' PDF version of the Obs QRH, or if you wish to modify it, you can download the editable Word version.

If you have any feedback or comments about the Obs QRH, please contact the OAA Secretariat