Vaginal breech delivery at term and neonatal morbidity and mortality - a population-based cohort study in Sweden.

INTRODUCTION: The routine to deliver almost all term breech cases by elective cesarean section (CS) has continued to be debated due to the risk of maternal and neonatal complications. The aims of the study were (1) to investigate if mode of delivery impacts on the risk of morbidity and mortality among term infants in breech presentation and (2) to compare the rates of severe neonatal complications and mortality in relation to presentation and mode of delivery. METHODS: This population-based cohort study used data from the Swedish Medical Birth Register. All women (and their newborn infants) with singleton pregnancies who gave birth at term to an infant in breech (n = 27,357) or cephalic presentation (n = 837,494) between 2001 and 2012 were included. Births with vacuum extraction and induced labors were excluded, as well as antepartum stillbirths, births with infants diagnosed with congenital malformations and multiple births. RESULTS: On one hand, the rates of neonatal complications and mortality were higher among infants born in vaginal breech compared to the vaginal cephalic group. On the other hand, after CS, the rates of all neonatal complications under study and neonatal mortality were lower among infants in breech presentation than in those in cephalic presentation. After adjustment for confounders, infants delivered in vaginal breech had 23.8 times higher odds AOR (ratio) for brachial plexus injury, 13.3 times higher odds ratio for Apgar score <7 at 5 min, 6.7 times higher odds of intracranial hemorrhage (ICH), or convulsions and 7.6 higher odds ratio for perinatal mortality than those delivered by elective CS. CONCLUSIONS: Despite a probable selection of women who before-hand were considered at low risk and, therefore, could be recommended vaginal breech delivery, infants delivered in vaginal breech faced substantially increased risks of severe neonatal complications compared with infants in breech presentations delivered by elective CS. Key message Vaginal breech delivery is associated with increased risk for severe neonatal complications.

Factors contributing to failure of vacuum delivery and associated maternal/neonatal morbidity.

OBJECTIVE: To determine factors contributing to the failure of vacuum delivery and to compare the neonatal and maternal morbidity associated with failed and successful procedures. METHODS: A retrospective case-control study was undertaken at Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi, Kenya, by review of medical charts from the period of January 2007 to December 2010. In total, 31 cases of failed vacuum delivery were compared with 124 controls where extraction was successful. The primary outcome measure was fetal malposition. Secondary outcome measures included a composite score of maternal complications, a 5-minute Apgar score below 7, an umbilical arterial pH below 7.1, and a base excess below -12. Multiple logistic regression analysis was undertaken to identify factors associated with failure of vacuum delivery. RESULTS: Demographic and labor characteristics were similar in both groups. Fetal malposition significantly contributed to the failure of vacuum delivery (odds ratio 12.7, 95% confidence interval 1.5-14.8). Failure of vacuum delivery was not associated with clinically important neonatal or maternal morbidity. CONCLUSIONS: Vacuum extraction is a safe mode of delivery where indicated, with minimal maternal and neonatal morbidity even in the event of procedural failure.

[Kiwi vacuum extractor versus forceps and spatula: maternal and fetal morbidity evaluation in 169 fetal extractions]. / Ventouse Kiwi versus forceps et spatules : évaluation de la morbidité maternelle et fœtale. À propos de 169 cas.

AIM: To evaluate maternal and fetal complications resulting from the use of the Kiwi vacuum extractor and to compare them with those resulting from the use of forceps or spatula. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients who had instrumental extraction between November 2006 and April 2007 were included in a unicentric retrospective study. Complications resulting from the use of Kiwi vacuum extractor and those of other instruments were compared. RESULTS: One hundred and sixty-nine patients where included, 79 had extraction with Kiwi vacuum extractor. The two populations (women having extraction with Kiwi and woman having extraction with spatula or forceps) were similar in terms of maternal characteristics, progress of labour and delivery. The rate of episiotomies was significantly lower with KIWI (73.1% versus 94.4%; P=0.0001), as well as was postpartum haemorrhage rate (8.9 % versus 18.9%; P=0.04). No perineal tear of second or third degree occurred with Kiwi. Kiwi vacuum extractor was associated with a higher rate of shoulder dystocia (12.8% versus 6.7%, NS), but related fetal complication rates were similar in the two groups. The extraction failure rate was significantly higher with Kiwi (11.4% versus 4.4%; P=0.04), but cesarean section rate was similar for the two groups (1.3 % versus 4.4%). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: This study is the first comparing complications occurring after extraction with KIWI vacuum extractor to those occurring with other instruments. Although the results are limited by the retrospective nature of the study and the small size of the workforce, our study suggests that Kiwi vacuum extractor is associated with a lower rate of maternal complications and a rate of fetal complication similar to other kind of instruments. This instrument should be promoted and taught to younger patricians. Our study also revealed higher failure and shoulder dystocia rates. Larger studies are needed to better evaluate risks factor concerning these two complications in order to optimise the use of Kiwi vacuum extractor.

Ventosa obstétrica / Vacuum extractor

La ventosa obstétrica es un instrumento que se basa en la aplicación de una cazoleta sobre la presentación fetal, se fija a esta mediante la aplicación de presión negativa y permite realizar tracción sobre ella para favorecer los mecanismos del parto. En este artículo se repasan las características técnicas de este instrumento, su técnica de aplicación y las complicaciones neonatales asociadas a su uso

Obstetric vacuum extraction is based on the application of a cup to the fetal head which is fixed by negative pressure allowing us to make traction to the fetal presentation favouring delivery mechanisms. In this article we review the technical characteristics of this instrument, technics of application and neonatal complications associated with its use

Forceps or vacuum extraction: a comparison of maternal and neonatal morbidity.

To compare maternal and neonatal morbidity associated with forceps and vacuum delivery, data on 150 women delivered by forceps and 420 delivered by vacuum extraction between 1995 and 1999 at Queen Ala Hospital, Jordan were compared. Data included parity, gestational age, infant birthweight, Apgar score, presentation and station of fetal head, indications for forceps and vacuum deliveries, delivery success rate, and maternal and neonatal morbidity. Maternal birth canal and genital tract lacerations were significantly more common in forceps delivery, and there was significantly increased morbidity in infants delivered by vacuum extraction (caput, jaundice, cephalohaematoma). Serous neonatal morbidity was rare for both groups.

Vacuum extraction: a randomized controlled comparison of the New Generation cup with the original Bird cup.

A new design of vacuum extractor cup--'the New Generation cup'--has recently been introduced into clinical practice. Its major modification is a traction cord which passes around the rim of the cup for 180 degrees and is free to slide within the rim. Claims that this design 'enables the operator to pull obliquely without causing the cup to tilt' and thereby 'reduces failure rates, reduces the incidence of scalp trauma and increases operator confidence' have been evaluated in a randomized controlled trial. 123 women with singleton pregnancies of 37 completed weeks or more, with a cephalic presentation and for whom a decision to deliver by vacuum extraction had been taken, were randomly allocated to the 'New Generation' cup or BIRD's original vacuum extractor cup; 50 mm anterior and posterior cups were used in both groups as appropriate. The two groups were comparable at entry and delivered by obstetricians of similar status. The two types of cup were similar in respect of number of failures to deliver with the vacuum extractor, correct positioning of the cup, number of pulls required for delivery and time taken to expedite delivery. Cup detachments occurred in nine cases allocated to the 'New Generation' cup compared with four allocated to the original BIRD cup. The babies in the two groups were in similar condition at birth and sustained similar amounts of scalp trauma. Neonatal jaundice, both clinical and biochemical, was more common in babies delivered with the 'New Generation cup' and this was reflected in greater use of phototherapy in this group. Operators were equally divided in their preference of cup.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Cohort study of silastic obstetric vacuum cup deliveries: I. Safety of the instrument.

A prospective study was undertaken to determine the safety of the Silastic vacuum extractor. Between November 1982 and July 1983, a cohort of 84 successful vacuum extractor deliveries was examined, using the next sequential forceps delivery and spontaneous vaginal delivery as controls. In addition to routine neonatal morbidity measures, Scanlon early neonatal neurobehavioral scale and a modified Sarnat encephalopathy staging examination were used to critically assess neurologic functioning; a cranial ultrasound scan was performed to look for intracerebral hemorrhage, and an indirect ophthalmologic examination was done to assess the incidence of retinal hemorrhage. The study yielded no significant increase in maternal vaginal trauma for vacuum extractor versus spontaneous vaginal delivery, but there was a significantly greater incidence for forceps delivery (60%) versus vacuum extractor (25%) and more associated blood loss for forceps delivery (P less than .01). There was no significant increase in neonatal morbidity for vacuum extractor compared with forceps delivery nor in serious morbidity compared with spontaneous vaginal delivery. Specifically, for vacuum extractor versus forceps delivery there was no difference in one- and five-minute Apgar scores, extent of resuscitation, cosmetic injury, jaundice, mean neonatal intensive care unit stay, or incidence of retinal hemorrhage. Notably, there was no mortality related to delivery method, but there were two unrelated deaths. There were no cases of intraventricular or subgaleal hemorrhage on clinical or ultrasound examination, but one stillborn infant, who succumbed to a generalized coagulation defect, had a subarachnoid hemorrhage. Finally, there was no significant difference in Sarnat encephalopathy staging or Scanlon neurobehavioral assessment between spontaneous vaginal, forceps, and vacuum extractor deliveries.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)