PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Colin Yarrow
AU  - Glenn Benoit
AU  - Michael C Klein
TI  - Outcomes after vacuum-assisted deliveries. Births attended by community family practitioners.
DP  - 2004 Aug 01
TA  - Canadian Family Physician
PG  - 1109--1114
VI  - 50
IP  - 8
4099  - http://www.cfp.ca/content/50/8/1109.short
4100  - http://www.cfp.ca/content/50/8/1109.full
SO  - Can Fam Physician2004 Aug 01; 50
AB  - OBJECTIVE To assess success rates, modes of delivery following failure, complications of mothers and newborns, and effect of extractor station and parity on vacuum-assisted deliveries attended by family physicians. DESIGN Retrospective audit. SETTING Community hospital. PARTICIPANTS Thirty-five family physicians providing maternity care. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Complications, parity, and extractor station of 153 vacuum-assisted deliveries from April 1, 2000, to March 31, 2003. RESULTS Family physicians attempted 153 vacuum deliveries (82 at low station, 71 at outlet station) and had a 94.1% success rate. Of nine failed vacuum deliveries (eight at low station and one at outlet station), four were subsequently delivered by forceps and five by cesarean section. Except for one case of subdural hematoma, complications were few. Nulliparity was associated with six of the nine failed vacuum deliveries. CONCLUSION Family physicians were usually successful with vacuum-assisted deliveries. Complications were infrequent and rapidly resolved, but one failure, which was followed by a failed forceps delivery and eventual cesarean section, resulted in a serious complication. Low station and nulliparity were associated with failure of vacuum-assisted deliveries.