RESUMO
This study was carried out to compare the maternal and neonatal morbidity associated with instrumental vaginal delivery [vacuum or forceps] with Cesarean section [C. section] at full dilatation of cervix at a tertiary care hospital. Two hundred women required operative delivery at full dilatation of cervix during the study period. Cesarean section was done in 100 patients and vaginal instrumental delivery was successful in 100 cases. Among C. section group 70 patients had immediate C. section and 30 patients had C. section after instrument failure. Among vaginal instrumental deliveries, 50 [50%] patients delivered by forceps and 50 [50%] by vacuum extraction. Mean age of study population was 25.35 +/- 4.65 years. Haemorrhage [blood loss > 1 litre] was more common, 16 [16%] for C. section than 4 [4%] for vaginal delivery irrespective of delivery mode p< 0.018. Discharge within 48 hours was more likely after vaginal instrumental delivery than after C. section. There were no perinatal deaths. Babies were more likely to be admitted to the nursery after C. section as compared to instrumental vaginal delivery