Simulation training is useful for shortening the decision-to-delivery interval in cases of emergent cesarean section.

OBJECTIVE: We examined the effect of simulation training for medical staff on the decision-to-delivery interval (DDI) in cases of emergent cesarean delivery and the effect of a shortened DDI on maternal and neonatal outcomes.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Our hospital is a tertiary perinatal center. As the simulation training was performed in March 2014, the study population was divided into two groups: pretraining group (November 2011-March 2014, 29 months: n = 15) and post-training group (April 2014-August 2016, 29 months: n = 35).

RESULTS: The DDI was significantly shorter in the post-training group than in the pretraining group (p = .009). In particular, the decision-to-entering the operating room interval was significantly shorter in the post-training group than in the pretraining group (p = .003). The umbilical artery pH was significantly better in post-training group than in the pretraining group (p = .019). Furthermore, the umbilical artery pH was significantly improved by simulation training only in "irreversible" cases (p = .012).

CONCLUSIONS: The DDI was significantly shortened by introducing simulation training. We also demonstrated a beneficial effect of the simulation training on the umbilical artery pH, especially in "irreversible" cases, without increasing the rate of maternal adverse outcome.