A properly conducted trial of a ventouse can prevent unexpected failure of instrumental delivery.
A retrospective study over a 5-year period reviewed 71 unexpected failures of instrumental delivery and compared them with a group of 21 trials of ventouse to identify causes for failure and their impact on neonatal outcome. There was a statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of pre-application assessment of fetal size, maternal pelvis and palpable fetal head above the pelvic brim (P less than 0.00001). There was also a significant difference in neonatal morbidity (P less than 0.01). All 5 neonatal deaths occurred in the failure group and were associated with multiple instrumentation.
De Jonge
E T
ET
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Pretoria.
Lindeque
B G
BG
D005113:Extraction, Obstetrical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007226:Infant Mortality; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011247:Pregnancy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014620:Vacuum Extraction, Obstetrical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*