Assisted Vaginal Delivery - Preference of Vacuum or Forceps among Obstetricians

Objective: To determine the instrument preference among obstetricians practicing operative vaginal deliveries and to determine the prevalence and risks of vacuum or forceps Assisted Vaginal Delivery (AVD). Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out in ACS Medical and Hospital, Chennai. A total of 520 obstetricians were included in the study. An online questionnaire was sent to all obstetricians in Chennai. The choice of procedure for specific circumstances, instrument preference [use of vacuum or forceps] and views on the complications encountered in both vacuum and forceps use at vaginal delivery were explored. For the replies, we computed means and percentages for the entire group and distinct subgroups. Risk assessment of outcome with exposure as suitable p-value was included in the statistical analysis. Results: Response rate for the questionnaire was 97% (504/520). The findings suggest that obstetricians preference was more towards vacuum due to their ease of usage. Baseline characteristics were similar between the two groups. Failed vacuum due to slipping of the cup was the most common complication faced - 62%, followed by caput succedaneum 25%, both were statistically significant. The most significant finding was that maternal injuries in the vacuum group were only 2% which was way less than those who had forceps delivery (68%) with a p-value of < 0.001. Conclusion: In this research, physician instrument choice is a significant predictor of results that should be taken into account. Use of vacuum for delivery seemed to be the choice of majority of obstetricians [334 (66%)]. Vacuum extractor rather than forceps for assisted delivery appears to reduce maternal morbidity, whereas neonatal injuries were more common in newborns delivered by vacuum. The choice of instrument should be personalized based on the patient's condition and the obstetrician's experience and expertise.

The Revelation of Caput Succedaneum after Instrumental Assisted Deliveries: Exclusively diagnosed on Ultrasonography: Mini Article of Case Series

Vacuum extraction delivery is one of the commonest and routinely available forms of assisted vaginal delivery in tertiary care hospitals. The association of caput succedaneum and mode of deliveries is sparsely discussed in any of the renowned platform. Here we are presenting case series of infants who presented to us with scalp swelling in our ultrasound suite and we diagnosed them as caput succedaneum exclusively on sonography with no need of CT or MRI scanning.

Outcome of Assisted Vaginal Deliveries in a Tertiary Care Centre in Bengaluru

BACKGROUND The lower segment caesarean section (LSCS) audit shows an increase in caesarean section rates worldwide. Assisted vaginal delivery and, if needed, emergency caesarean section are options available to the obstetrician to handle challenges in the second stage when spontaneous and safe delivery is not imminent. Judicious use of the instrument as well as continuing medical education in the art of assisted vaginal delivery is a must to achieve the twin goal of containing the surging caesarean section rate as well as bring about a successful and safe assisted vaginal delivery. The objective of this study was to quantify the various morbidities associated with assisted vaginal deliveries among patients in a tertiary care teaching hospital in Bengaluru. METHODS It is a retrospective study carried for four years between July 2016 and June 2020 at Ramaiah Medical College at Bengaluru. The total number of vaginal deliveries was 6318 out of which 1020 had a successful assisted vaginal delivery and were studied in terms of outcomes, maternal and foetal indications and morbidity. RESULTS Out of 1020 assisted vaginal deliveries, 86.96 % were vacuum-assisted, 3.9 % were forceps assisted and 9.11 % were both vacuum and forceps assisted. The success rate of forceps deliveries was more compared to vacuum. No significant maternal and neonatal mortality and morbidity were observed in our study. CONCLUSIONS In this study, vacuum was the most used method of assisted vaginal delivery and was safer for mothers and babies. It is also easier to teach and learn. Forceps delivery was more used in preterm delivery. KEY WORDS Assisted Vaginal Delivery, Vacuum, Forceps, Sequential use of Instruments, Maternal and Neonatal Morbidity.

Obstetric anal sphincter injury and anal incontinence

Overview Objective: The aim of our study is to clarify the problems of OASI (obstetric anal sphincter injuries) and anal incontinence and prevention of this injury. Methods: Review of articles in peer reviewed journals with the usage of Google Scholar function and PubMed. Conclusion: OASI is a severe injury which is more commonly associated with assisted vaginal delivery. This injury cannot be fully prevented, but its incidence can be averted by the usage of selective mediolateral episiotomy, or by other precautionary moves in high risk patients. The treatment of anal incontinence after OASI requires a complex approach and thorough examination. At first delivery, OASI is not a stern indication for caesarean section in accordance with current state of knowledge. Keywords: OASI – sphincter injury – anal incontinence – assisted vaginal delivery – vacuum-extraction – forceps

The Association between the Number of Vacuum Pop-offs and Adverse Neonatal Outcomes

Objective Obstetrical vacuum manufacturers have long recommended a maximum of two to three pop-offs be allowed before abandoning the procedure. However, there is a paucity of evidence on the safety of vacuum-assisted vaginal delivery in relation to the number of pop-offs to support this recommendation. Our objective was to examine whether the number of pop-offs in a vacuum-assisted vaginal delivery was associated with adverse neonatal outcomes. Study Design This is a retrospective cohort study of women who underwent a trial of a vacuum-assisted vaginal delivery at a single tertiary care institution between October 2005 and June 2014. Maternal and fetal factors associated with the number of pop-offs were examined in bivariable analyses. Multivariable analyses were performed to determine the independent association of the number of pop-offs with adverse neonatal outcomes. Results Of the 1,730 women who met inclusion criteria, 1,293 (74.7%) had no pop-offs, 240 (13.9%) had one pop-off, 128 (7.4%) had two pop-offs, and 69 (4.0%) had three or more pop-offs. Neonatal scalp/facial lacerations, intracranial hemorrhage, seizures, central nervous system depression, and neonatal intensive care unit admission were all associated with the number of pop-offs in bivariable analyses. In multivariable analyses, compared to no pop-offs, having any vacuum pop-offs was associated with an increased odds of adverse neonatal outcomes. However, there was not a consistent dose–response relationship. Conclusion While having vacuum pop-offs in a vacuum-assisted vaginal delivery was associated with an increased risk of adverse neonatal outcomes, there did not appear to be a dose-dependent association with the number of pop-offs. Key Points

Vaginal Delivery

Vaginal delivery refers to the birth of offspring in mammals or babies in humans, through the vagina, also known as the “birth canal”. It is the natural method of birth for most mammals excluding those which lay eggs. For women who deliver vaginally, childbirth progresses in three stages: labor, delivery of the baby and delivery of the placenta. There are two types of vaginal delivery: Unassisted vaginal delivery and assisted vaginal delivery. In the later, this assistance can vary from use of medicines to emergency delivery procedures. The following types of vaginal delivery have been noted; (a) Spontaneous vaginal delivery (SVD) (b) Assisted vaginal delivery (AVD), also called instrumental vaginal delivery (c) Induced vaginal delivery and (d) Normal vaginal delivery (NVD), usually used in statistics or studies to contrast with a delivery by cesarean section. Delivery of a full-term newborn occurs at a gestational age of 37–42 weeks, usually determined by the last menstrual period or ultrasonographic dating and evaluation. Nearly 80% of newborns are delivered at full term while approximately 10% of singleton pregnancies are delivered preterm and 10% of all deliveries are post-term.