Vacuum-assisted deliveries are safe alternative to forceps
Vacuum-assisted deliveries are a safe alternative to forceps, despite a warning by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 1998 that vacuum assisted deliveries may result in fatal complications, say researchers in this weeks BMJ (British Medical Journal ). The researchers compared the risk of death and birth injuries between vacuum extraction and forceps for more than 11 million singleton live births in the United States. The overall risk of death and birth injuries were similar between births assisted by forceps or vacuum, suggesting that vacuum extraction is at least as safe as forceps.In addition, the relatively low rate of fatal complications among vacuum deliveries argue against the FDA warning, say the authors. Encouraging instrumental vaginal deliveries may help toreduce the rate of cesarean delivery. Although delivery by vacuum still has risks, it remains a safe alternative to forceps. These results also underscore the need for obstetric standards in performing instrumental deliveries, they conclude.
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