[Contribution of the use of virtual reality in childbirth: A narrative review of the literature]. / Apport de l'utilisation de la réalité virtuelle lors de l'accouchement - Revue narrative de la littérature.

The current use of virtual reality (VR) in medicine is expanding rapidly. This non-pharmacological option is increasingly proposed as primary or complementary/multimodal analgesic or anxiolytic management. The role of VR in obstetrics remains to be defined. We propose a narrative review of the literature on the role of VR in obstetrics during childbirth, which shows promise. If used properly, this technique could help improve the experience of childbirth.

L'usage actuel de la réalité virtuelle (RV) en médecine est en pleine expansion. Cette option non pharmacologique est de plus en plus proposée comme prise en charge antalgique ou anxiolytique principale ou complémentaire/multimodale. La place de la RV en obstétrique reste à définir. Nous proposons ici une revue narrative de la littérature sur la place de la RV en obstétrique lors de l'accouchement, qui se révèle prometteuse. Avec une utilisation bien encadrée, cette technique pourrait avoir sa place dans l'amélioration du vécu de l'accouchement.

'connEcted caesarean section': creating a virtual link between MOthers and their infanTs to ImprOve maternal childbirth experieNce - study protocol for a PILOT trial (e-motion-pilot).

INTRODUCTION: One-third of mothers rate their childbirth as traumatic. The prevalence of childbirth-related post-traumatic stress disorder (CB-PTSD) is 4.7%. Skin-to-skin contact is a protective factor against CB-PTSD. However, during a caesarean section (CS), skin-to-skin contact is not always feasible and mothers and infants are often separated. In those cases, there is no validated and available solution to substitute this unique protective factor. Based on the results of studies using virtual reality and head-mounted displays (HMDs) and studies on childbirth experience, we hypothesise that enabling the mother to have a visual and auditory contact with her baby could improve her childbirth experience while she and her baby are separated. To facilitate this connection, we will use a two-dimensional 360° camera filming the baby linked securely to an HMD that the mother can wear during the end of the surgery. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This study protocol describes a monocentric open-label controlled pilot trial with minimal risk testing the effects of a visual and auditory contact via an HMD worn by the mother airing a live video of her newborn compared with treatment-as-usual in 70 women after CS. The first 35 consecutive participants will be the control group and will receive the standard care. The next 35 consecutive participants will have the intervention. The primary outcome will be differences in maternal childbirth experience (Childbirth Experience Questionnaire 2) at 1-week postpartum between the intervention and control groups. Secondary outcomes will be CB-PTSD symptoms, birth satisfaction, mother-infant bonding, perceived pain and stress during childbirth, maternal anxiety and depression symptoms, anaesthesiological data and acceptability of the procedure. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethics approval was granted by the Human Research Ethics Committee of the Canton de Vaud (study number 2022-00215). Dissemination of results will occur via national and international conferences, peer-reviewed journals, public conferences and social media. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT05319665.

How to Adapt Anesthetic Human Resources to Health Emergencies Such as the COVID-19 Outbreak: Replacing a Pre-anesthetic Consultation With a Questionnaire in a University Obstetric Unit.

To manage referrals to the pre-anesthetic consultation during the COVID-19 pandemic, a screening questionnaire was created and sent to parturients with anesthetic risk during the pre-anesthetic consultation. This innovative approach enabled the redistribution of medical anesthetic resources in units that were heavily affected by the pandemic.

Drinking during low-risk labor: monocentric randomized clinical trial on patients' satisfaction, and maternal and neonatal outcomes.

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to assess satisfaction of patients affected by various fluid regimes during uncomplicated labor; to identify factors possibly associated with the level of satisfaction; to compare obstetrical and neonatal outcomes between the intervention groups. METHODS: Between October and December 2014, 40 women were included in the study set at the Poitiers University Hospital, France. Women were randomly allocated to two study arms: 20 to strict and 20 to liberal fluid regime group. Women's satisfaction was assessed using visual analog scale. Categorical obstetrical and neonatal outcomes were analyzed using Chi-squared test and Fischer's exact test. The between-group difference was assessed with Mann-Whitney U-test. RESULTS: Overall satisfaction was higher among women from the liberal fluid regime than from the strict fluid regime group (median score: 88, interquartile range [IQR]: 21 vs. 72, IQR: 21; p = 0.03). The active phase of the second stage of labor was shorter in the liberal fluid regime than in the strict fluid regime group (median 9 min, IQR: 7 vs. 17 min, IQR: 12; p = 0.02). The length of stay in the delivery room was significantly shorter in liberal fluid regime than in strict fluid regime group (median 190 min, IQR: 128 vs. 340 min, IQR: 195, p = 0.04). There were no significant differences in other obstetrical and neonatal outcomes. CONCLUSION: Liberal fluid regime during labor was associated with significantly higher satisfaction of women. The active phase of the second stage of labor and the length of stay in the delivery room were significantly shorter in the liberal fluid regime group.