In obstetrics, the Burns-Marshall maneuver is specifically used for which of the following?

JIPMER Nursing Officer-2024

Obstetrics & Gynaecology

Easy

Appeared in: JIPMER Nursing Officer-2024

Explanation

The Burns-Marshall maneuver is a specific technique used to facilitate the delivery of the after-coming head in a vaginal breech birth.
The principle of the maneuver is to use the baby's own weight to promote flexion of the head as it descends through the pelvis.
The delivery is completed by grasping the baby's ankles and swinging the trunk in a wide upward arc over the mother's abdomen, which allows the face and brow to sweep over the perineum.
This controlled movement helps prevent sudden changes in intracranial pressure and potential neck injury to the fetus.

Option A: The delivery of the placenta is managed by different techniques, not the Burns-Marshall maneuver.
Option B: This option describes a normal (head-first) presentation. The Burns-Marshall maneuver is exclusively for breech (feet or buttocks-first) presentations.
Option C: Cord prolapse is an acute obstetric emergency with a distinct management protocol focused on relieving cord compression.

Visual 1: Diagram - A step-by-step illustration of the Burns-Marshall maneuver, showing the baby's body hanging to flex the head, followed by the upward swing over the mother's abdomen to deliver the face and brow over the perineum.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Obstetric maneuvers for breech delivery as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurses and midwives must be familiar with various obstetric maneuvers to anticipate needs, prepare equipment, and assist the primary provider effectively during complicated deliveries.
In a breech delivery, the nurse's role includes assisting with maternal positioning, applying suprapubic pressure as directed, and being prepared for potential neonatal resuscitation, as babies born breech are at higher risk for asphyxia.
Understanding these maneuvers enhances patient safety by ensuring a coordinated and skilled team response to obstetric challenges.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key term in the question stem: 'Burns-Marshall maneuver'.
Recognize this as a factual recall question requiring knowledge of a specific, named obstetric procedure.
Access your knowledge base on labor and delivery complications and their management. Named maneuvers are often associated with non-routine situations.
Evaluate each option: A) Placental delivery has its own maneuvers (e.g., Brandt-Andrews). B) Cephalic presentation is the normal presentation and doesn't require this specific maneuver. C) Cord prolapse is an emergency with a different protocol.
Deduce that the maneuver must be for the most common complication listed that involves delivering the baby itself: a breech presentation, where the head comes out last ('after-coming').
Confirm that the Burns-Marshall maneuver is indeed the technique for delivering the after-coming head in a breech birth.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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