A review of vacuum deliveries at komfo anokye teaching hospital, kumasi.
OBJECTIVE
To review vacuum deliveries conducted at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) Kumasi, over a one year period.


METHODS
The labour records of parturients who reported at KATH between 1(st) January and 31(st) December 2000 were retrieved. The records of those who had vacuum deliveries were reviewed for baseline practices and outcomes.


RESULTS
Three hundred and forty-one (341) patients out of 11,122 were delivered by vacuum extraction giving an incidence of 3.1%. There was a failure rate of 6.4%. The main indication for the procedure was Prolonged 2(nd) stage of labour which occurred in 37.2% of parturients. The mean birth weight was 3.1kg (S.D 0.58kg). Mild asphyxia as shown by Apgar score of 4-6 at one minute was found in 16.4% of babies. Maternal morbidity was low and limited to perineal injuries.


CONCLUSIONS
The use of vacuum extraction as a means of assisted delivery was found to be safe with reference to both maternal and fetal outcomes.
Opoku
Bk
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Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology-School of Medical Sciences, Kumasi, Ghana.